Earthquake Jolts Bihar, Sikkim and North Bengal

Purnia: Tremors were felt across parts of Bihar, Sikkim and north Bengal late on Sunday night after an earthquake struck Bhutan. The quake occurred around 11.06 pm, causing panic among residents as the ground shook for a few seconds.

Tremors were reported from Bihar’s Purnia and Kishanganj districts, while people in Sikkim and several districts of north Bengal also felt the impact.

According to the Android Earthquake Alerts System, the earthquake measured 5.3 in magnitude, while the United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded it at 5.6. The epicentre was near Punakha, Bhutan. Tremors were felt across Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and India.

Residents of Purnia and Kishanganj rushed out of their homes. However, no casualties or property damage were reported.

Residents of Gangtok and other parts of Sikkim said they felt the tremors for a few seconds, leading many to step outside their homes as a precaution. An official from the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority said the situation was being monitored.

The earthquake was also felt in Siliguri and the districts of Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar in north Bengal. Officials said there were no reports of injuries or damage to property in the affected areas.

Earlier on Sunday morning, tremors were also reported in several parts of Bihar around 6.35 am. Districts including Patna, Supaul, Araria, Sheohar and Siwan experienced shaking, causing residents to come out of their homes and apartment buildings.