5.5 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Southern Bengal, Damages Border Villages
A significant earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale jolted Kolkata and several parts of southern Bengal on Friday afternoon, with the most severe damage reported from villages along the India-Bangladesh border. The National Centre for Seismology confirmed the quake originated at a depth of 10 km in Nayabazar, sending tremors across the region.
Widespread Structural Damage in Border Communities
The epicenter's proximity to border areas resulted in substantial structural damage to residential properties. In villages located between 19 km and 30 km from Satkhira, at least five houses suffered significant harm. Concrete ceilings collapsed in multiple homes, while wall tiles dislodged and fell during the intense shaking.
At Basirhat's Trimohini, resident Shankar Patra described the terrifying experience: "It was around 1.20 pm. We were about to have lunch when we felt the tremors. My wife and daughter cried out in horror. The shaking lasted several seconds, but we continued to feel dizzy for a couple of minutes even after it stopped. Later, we noticed several cracks in the walls of our two-storey house."
Multiple Locations Report Building Collapses and Damage
Damage extended across several border communities. In Puratanbazar near Taki, local resident Samir Guha reported recently installed tiles falling from his home during the quake. "We felt strong tremors for nearly 30 to 35 seconds. It was absolutely terrifying," he recounted.
More serious structural failures occurred in Jogeshganj in Hingalganj, where the upper portion of a garment shop completely collapsed. The shop owner expressed relief at their narrow escape: "We were inside when the earthquake struck. The attic room collapsed, but we immediately rushed out after feeling the initial tremors."
At Minakhan, an entire section of an under-construction building came crashing down during the seismic event. Video footage of this collapse circulated widely on social media platforms, though its authenticity could not be independently verified by local authorities.
Panic and Additional Damage Across Affected Areas
Several houses sustained damage at Beliaghata in Sashan, where a local panchayat member reported large cracks appearing in walls near Beliaghata Bazar and a substantial chunk of concrete ceiling falling from one residence. Reports of building cracks also emerged from Amdanga.
Sheikh Sabir Ali, a resident of Beraberia in Amdanga, described scenes of panic during the earthquake: "We were sitting on the sofa when we suddenly felt the tremors. The sofa and ceiling fan were shaking violently, and a bottle on the table fell down. All of us rushed downstairs immediately. Later we discovered multiple cracks throughout our house."
The earthquake's impact was particularly concentrated in villages approximately 26km from the epicenter in Nayabazar, with Taki in Basirhat subdivision experiencing some of the most severe consequences. While Kolkata and broader southern Bengal felt the tremors, the border regions bore the brunt of the physical damage to structures and properties.
