Strong tremors felt in Kolkata as 5.7-magnitude quake near Dhaka kills six

Strong tremors were felt in Kolkata, several parts of West Bengal, and across Northeast India after a 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck near Dhaka on Friday (November 21), according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

Dhaka-based DBC Television reported six deaths in the capital alone, including three people killed when parts of a building’s roof and wall collapsed, and three pedestrians crushed by falling railings.

Tremors in Kolkata

In Kolkata, many people felt the tremors around 10.10 am, prompting them to rush out of homes and buildings in panic. Social media users later shared several videos capturing the moment the city shook.

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Tremors were also reported from other districts of West Bengal, including Cooch Behar, Dakshin Dinajpur and Uttar Dinajpur.

Residents in Guwahati, Agartala, and Shillong in the Northeast also said they experienced the quake.

The earthquake briefly interrupted the ongoing Test match between Bangladesh and Ireland in Dhaka, though play resumed within minutes and no damage was reported.

Panic in Dhaka

In addition to the six fatalities, dozens more were injured in panic-driven incidents across Dhaka, where buildings swayed sharply during the tremor. Residents rushed out of homes, offices and high-rise buildings, gathering in open spaces amid fears of aftershocks.

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The quake struck 13 km south-southwest of Narsingdi, around 50 km from the Bangladeshi capital, at 10.08 am. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), it was recorded at a depth of 10 km.

While northern and southeastern Bangladesh are known earthquake-prone zones due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, the central region, where this quake occurred, is generally less active, the USGS noted.