Kolkata, 27 February (H.S.):

A powerful earthquake shook Bengal on Friday afternoon. Strong tremors were felt in Kolkata and surrounding districts around 1:20 pm. The sudden tremor spread panic, and people rushed out of their homes and offices onto the streets.

Local residents said they had never experienced such intense tremors before. According to preliminary information, the earthquake's magnitude ranged between 4.9 and 5 on the Richter scale, while several mobile phone alerts reported a magnitude of 5. People living in high-rise buildings experienced strong tremors. The impact lasted for about a minute.

According to sources, the earthquake was not limited to Bengal; it was also felt in neighboring Bangladesh. Kolkata recorded a magnitude of 3.6 on the Richter scale, while Bangladesh recorded a magnitude of 5. The epicenter is initially believed to be in the Khulna region of Bangladesh.

Strong tremors were felt in several areas of West Bengal, including Nadia, Hooghly, East and West Medinipur, North and South 24 Parganas, and the Sundarbans. At present, no official reports of loss of life or property have been received, although the administration is closely monitoring the situation.

Following the earthquake, a sense of fear prevailed for some time, and in many areas, people were seen standing in open spaces as a precaution.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey