A 4.9-magnitude earthquake jolted Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Siliguri and other parts of North Bengal early on Thursday, with tremors also reported in Sikkim, Bihar, Nepal, Bhutan and parts of Bangladesh, according to Anandabazar – West Bengal.
The earthquake was felt at around 4.30 am in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri, while residents across large parts of Sikkim also reported the shaking. The report identified Nepal as the source of the earthquake and placed the epicentre close to the Nepal border near Sikkim.
According to the report, the epicentre was approximately 40 km north-west of Yuksom in Sikkim. The location meant that the tremors were felt across a wider area, including the two hill districts of West Bengal. Mild shaking was also reported from some areas of Bangladesh.
The early-morning timing meant that many residents were asleep when the earthquake struck. People who were awake felt the tremors, while some residents reportedly left their homes in fear after the shaking began.
No casualties or damage had been reported at the time of the report. The available account did not provide details of structural inspections, disruptions to roads, buildings, utilities or public transport in the affected areas.
The tremors have again drawn attention to the vulnerability of settlements in the eastern Himalayan and sub-Himalayan region, where earthquake activity can affect multiple jurisdictions because of the proximity of national borders and the region’s mountainous terrain. Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Sikkim also contain steep slopes, dense settlements and important road connections, making rapid assessment relevant after a significant tremor.
The latest incident follows an earthquake in Bhutan in June, when a 5.8-magnitude earthquake reportedly occurred about 22 km from the Bhutanese capital, Thimphu. Tremors from that event were felt in parts of India, China, Bangladesh and Nepal, including North Bengal, Assam and Meghalaya.
Authorities had not reported any damage or further operational impact in the supplied account. Any confirmation of structural damage, landslides, service interruptions or aftershocks would require subsequent official updates from disaster-management and local administration agencies.
