Kolkata: Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar was in the middle of addressing a political rally in Kolkata on Friday afternoon when the ground beneath him began to shake. As tremors rattled the venue, Majumdar paused at the podium and asked the crowd, “Should I stop?”, a moment caught on camera and shared widely by news agency IANS. The video shows Majumdar standing at the podium when the tremors hit. Lights at the event venue can be seen swinging as the earthquake shook the city.
Quake Strikes at 1.22 pm
According to the weather office, the earthquake struck at 1.22 pm on Friday and measured 5.5 on the Richter scale. The quake originated in Nayabazar, Bangladesh, but its tremors were felt strongly across Kolkata and surrounding areas.
City Comes to a Standstill
The tremors felt in Kolkata are supposed to be generated from neighouring Bangladesh. According to news agency ANI, the earthquake hit South-West from BMD Seismic Centre, Agargaon, Dhaka in Bangladesh. Despite that, the impact was strongly felt in parts of West Bengal, including Kolkata. Officials described it as one of the strongest tremors experienced in the city in recent years.
Meanwhile, authorities have confirmed that residents are safe and no major destruction of property has been reported so far. They said the buildings, especially high-rise, were immediately evacuated.
Read More: ‘Felt Tremors for 5 Seconds’: Kolkata Jolted by Earthquake With Epicentre in Bangladesh – VIDEO
Social Media Buzz
Following the earthquake, several people turned to social media to share their experiences. Several of them defined it as the worst earthquake.
“Strong earthquake tremors were felt across Kolkata around 1:20–1:30 PM IST. The quake originated in Bangladesh (epicenter near the border, possibly near Satkhira or Taki region), with reported magnitudes ranging from 4.9 to 5.5,” said a media user.
What To Do During Earthquake?
First of all, do not panic.
Take shelter under a desk or a table that is sturdy.
Stay away from glass, windows, shelves and heavy objects that may hurt you if broken due to tremors.
Do not run when it is still shaking.
If you are in a vehicle, park safely away from bridges, tunnels and flyovers.
