Today (1:22 pm, 27/02/2026) a large area of ​​South Bengal including Kolkata suddenly shook at noon. I am writing this report from about 96 km away from the epicenter of the earthquake, the magnitude of which was relatively low around 5.5 on the Richter scale.

Magnitude: Measured at 5.5 by the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) and 5.3-5.4 by other agencies.

Epicentre: Located in Bangladesh, approximately 26 km southeast of Taki, West Bengal.

Depth: Reported at a shallow depth of 10 km, which contributed to the intensity of the shaking.

Affected Areas: Tremors were strongly felt in Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, Jhargram, and Paschim Medinipur.

Earthquakes always instill enthusiasm among people. But it is very important to inform everyone that this is not a matter of concern or anxiety. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has already changed the earthquake zones of India. Because the nature of earthquakes has already changed in India. The previous four earthquake zones have now become five. According to the new earthquake zone, a large part of South Bengal including Kolkata is included in Earthquake Zone-IV.

The effect of neotectonic activity has already changed in the Indian subcontinent. The Indian plate is still subducting under the Eurasian plate, but due to the change in the nature of circulation, the south-eastern side of India is gradually sinking, while the north-western side is gradually rising. It is worth noting that this is how the Thar Desert was born and the well-known Saraswati River disappeared. If we consider West Bengal, the south-eastern side, which is actually part of the deltaic plain, including the capital Kolkata, is gradually sinking due to neotectonic activity and isostatic equilibrium. Such small earthquakes are bearing evidence of this.

Geologically, the speed and direction of plate movement change with the change of time and its effect is clear in India at present. This is how changes have occurred over the ages and will continue to occur in the future. However, there is nothing to worry about. Just as the Himalayas were born from Tethys, the appearance of the Himalayas that formed has changed in accordance with time. This change in the world is very natural, so it is unnecessary for the common man to worry about it. However, its harmful effects will definitely be felt in unplanned urban development. Judging by the nature of the structure of the city of Kolkata, it can be easily felt that it is unplanned. At the same time, groundwater is being stolen or discharging soon , and on the other hand, the path to groundwater recharge is being blocked with concrete sheets, due to which the primary backbone or geological structure of the city of Kolkata is weakening. If such an earthquake is clearly effective, then it is not unusual for the city to be crushed in an instant. That is also a normal occurrence in the phenomenon of breaking and building nature. Not unusual. That is, even if our excessive growth is the cause of our destruction at some point, it is normal. Not unusual or extraordinary.

There may be more waiting for us… but instead of looking at it with the eye of concern, look at it with the eye of naturality. Thank you.

Krishna Sarkar, Nadia