Kolkata and vast stretches of South Bengal were jolted by a significant earthquake today, sending panicked residents and office-goers rushing out of buildings into open spaces. The tremors, which lasted for several seconds, triggered widespread alarm across the city’s high-rises and residential neighborhoods.

According to preliminary reports, the epicenter of the earthquake was located in Khulna, Bangladesh. The magnitude of the quake was recorded at 5.0 on the Richter Scale. Due to its proximity to the border, the vibrations were felt strongly across the Gangetic plains of West Bengal.

Kolkata: Intense shaking was reported in Park Street, Salt Lake, and New Town. Residents in high-rise apartments reported seeing ceiling fans and furniture sway violently. South Bengal Districts: Strong tremors were felt in North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, and parts of Medinipur. Border Regions: Areas like Nadia and Bongaon, situated close to the Bangladesh border, experienced the highest intensity of the shock.

In the city's central business district, hundreds of employees evacuated their offices and gathered on the streets, fearing potential aftershocks. While the shaking caused visible distress and minor cracks in some older structures, no major casualties or significant property damage have been reported thus far.