A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck the Bhutan-Assam-North Bengal border region around 11:06 p.m. on Sunday [1], [3].
The seismic event underscores the vulnerability of the region to tectonic activity, as tremors were felt as far away as Kolkata and various parts of West Bengal [1], [2].
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), the earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 km [1], [2]. This shallow epicentre contributed to the intensity of the tremors felt across the border regions of India and Bhutan [1].
While the GFZ recorded the magnitude at 5.6 [1], other reports indicated a range between 5.0 and 5.4 [2]. The quake originated near the intersection of Bhutan, Assam, and North Bengal [1]. However, some reports suggested the event may have originated in neighboring Bangladesh [2].
Local residents in Kolkata and North Bengal reported feeling the shaking late Sunday evening [1]. The timing of the event, occurring shortly after 11 p.m., meant many residents were indoors when the tremors began [3].
Emergency services and geological monitors continue to assess the impact of the quake. The region remains one of the most seismically active zones in the world due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates—a factor that frequently leads to shallow, high-impact earthquakes [1].
“A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck the Bhutan-Assam-North Bengal border region”
The occurrence of a shallow earthquake in the Bhutan-Assam-North Bengal corridor highlights the persistent seismic risk facing the densely populated regions of Northeast India and West Bengal. Because the epicentre was only 10 km deep, the energy release was more directly felt on the surface, increasing the likelihood of structural damage even at moderate magnitudes. The discrepancy in reported epicentres between Bhutan and Bangladesh suggests a complex rupture zone that requires further geophysical analysis to map accurately.
