An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale struck the Bay of Bengal early Tuesday morning, with tremors felt across Kolkata and several regions of West Bengal.
According to the National Center for Seismology (NCS), the earthquake occurred at 6:10 a.m. at a depth of 91 kilometers. The NCS shared the information on social media platform X, stating: “EQ of M: 5.1, On: 25/02/2025 06:10:25 IST, Lat: 19.52 N, Long: 88.55 E, Depth: 91 Km, Location: Bay of Bengal.”
Kolkata lies in Seismic Zone III, which indicates a moderate risk of earthquakes. Although the city is not as prone to severe seismic activity as regions like Northeast India, the Himalayas, or Gujarat, occasional tremors are felt due to nearby seismic events in the Bay of Bengal, Nepal, or Northeast India.
Seismologists note that shallow earthquakes, occurring at depths between five to ten kilometers, typically cause more surface damage compared to deeper quakes. The earthquake on Tuesday, despite its moderate magnitude, originated at a deeper depth, which reduced the intensity of the tremors experienced on the surface.
The tremors caused momentary panic among residents in parts of West Bengal. However, there have been no reports of damage or casualties so far.
This incident follows a similar event on January 8, when mild tremors were felt in Kolkata after a powerful earthquake struck Tibet and parts of Nepal. North Bengal also experienced tremors during that event, but no significant damage was reported.
Earlier, on February 17, an earthquake of magnitude 4.0 shook Delhi, with stronger tremors experienced in the capital due to its proximity to the epicenter.
Authorities continue to monitor seismic activity in the region, with no immediate reports of damage or casualties at this time.
-IANS