Intense tremors from a 5.3 magnitude earthquake in Bangladesh rattled Kolkata and swathes of West Bengal on February 27 afternoon, evoking mass hysteria. Clocking in at 1:22 PM, the shocks from 10 km depth were keenly felt, with local readings at 5.0 magnitude and epicenter 8 km distant, per European Mediterranean data.
The event, confined to seconds, nonetheless cleared streets as precautionary evacuations unfolded. Districts bearing the brunt included Howrah, Hooghly, the 24 Parganas, and both Midnapores, where buildings swayed noticeably.
Compelling footage emerged from a Kolkata venue where Minister Sukanta Majumdar’s rally was interrupted by the quake—shuddering equipment forced a pause as he checked on the shaken crowd.
Voices from the ground painted vivid pictures: Howrah’s residents felt prolonged jolts, later identified as seismic. The fear factor was palpable, mirroring unease from the February 3 Myanmar-sourced shakes that persisted 15 seconds.
Fortunately, no losses or major disruptions surfaced initially. Response teams verified infrastructure integrity, while experts linked it to regional fault lines demanding vigilance.
This close call amplifies urgency for advanced tech like shake-alert apps and fortified constructions. Kolkata, with its dense populace and aging edifices, must prioritize resilience. Concluding on a proactive note, ongoing awareness could transform such scares into manageable routines.