Kolkata Earthquake: Strong tremors were felt across Kolkata and nearby districts on Friday after a 5.5-magnitude quake struck West Bengal. Tremors were also reported in Assam, where a 4.7-magnitude earthquake occurred around the same time, prompting people in several areas to rush outdoors in panic. The epicentre of the quake was 14 km from Narsingdi in Bangladesh, according to the United States Geological Survey.
A 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck near Narsingdi, Bangladesh at 10:08:26 (UTC+05:30) today: United States Geological Survey (USGS Earthquake) pic.twitter.com/efJYPROHim — ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2025
Earthquake Temporarily Halts International Cricket Match
Add Zee News as a Preferred Source
The earthquake also briefly interrupted the ongoing Test match between Bangladesh and Ireland in Dhaka. The geme resumed a few minutes later, and no damage was reported.
Their was an earthquake in the Bangladesh vs Ireland game. Which delayed the game for about 5minutes. Play on… #BanvsIre — All Things Madrid and Cricket (@things_madrid) November 21, 2025
Social Media Flooded With Videos and Reactions
According to a social media user, people in the IT sector of Salt Lake City in Kolkata evacuated their offices after strong tremors were felt in parts of #WestBengal.
Earthquake in kolkata. Evacuation in process pic.twitter.com/MMqMA8gX3w — Tanumay Majumdar (@Metanumaym) November 21, 2025
Earthquake in Kolkata #earthquake pic.twitter.com/r3ODciGrh0 — RAVINDRA KUMAR (@RAVINDRA9664) November 21, 2025
A M5.5 earthquake hit Bangladesh near Dhaka and Tungi, felt across India (Kolkata). #earthquake #sismo Moderate damage in Dhaka, reports from Bangladesh and India, tremors widely felt in cities, especially Dhaka, Barisal, Comilla, and Kolkata. https://t.co/KpojJiSHxM pic.twitter.com/W911CJ3t3w — GeoTechWar (@geotechwar) November 21, 2025
All employees were asked to step out as buildings shook due to earthquake tremors in Kolkata#Kolkata #earthquake pic.twitter.com/dEM8Lu0nyo — Karl Marx2.O (@Marx2PointO) November 21, 2025
Immediately after the earthquake, videos and reactions flooded social media. One user posted, “I’ve never felt such a strong earthquake in Bangladesh. Even though it was a magnitude 5.2, it was very strong because the epicenter was so close to Dhaka.”
Another user posted, “Our prayers are with everyone affected by the earthquake in Bangladesh and India. Stay safe and strong.”
So far, no major damage or casualties have been confirmed.
Why Bangladesh Is Highly Earthquake-Prone
Bangladesh lies at the intersection of three major tectonic plates, the Indian, Eurasian and Burma plates. With the Indian plate moving northeast at around 6 cm per year and the Eurasian plate pushing northward at about 2 cm annually, the region experiences high geological stress.
The country is also near multiple major fault lines, including:
- Bogura Fault
- Tripura Fault
- Shillong Plateau Fault
- Dauki Fault
- Assam Fault
Dhaka Among World’s Most Vulnerable Cities
Dhaka, with more than 30,000 people per sq km, is one of the world’s densest cities and has been listed among the global top 20 cities most vulnerable to a major earthquake, according to The Daily Star.
(With ANI Inputs)
