Odisha was jolted by a 5.1-magnitude earthquake in the Bay of Bengal early this morning. The quake struck near Puri at 6:10 AM, sending tremors across several areas, including Berhampur, Balasore, Cuttack, and Bhubaneswar. Fortunately, no loss of life or property damage has been reported.
Residents across the state were caught off guard by the tremors, which lasted nearly a minute. Many took to social media to share their experiences. One resident in Rourkela tweeted, “I could feel the waves, as my room was shaking at 6:12 AM.” Another in Cuttack said, “I was sleeping and got woken up by the shaking of the bed.”
The tremors were also felt in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, with many users posting on social media about a “big jerk.” While Odisha is located in seismic zones II and III, which are less vulnerable to strong quakes, the tremors still caused concern among residents.
Experts note that the state’s seismic risk is moderate, with several districts, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Puri, situated in zone III. Last year, it was reported that 14 districts in Odisha face earthquake risks.
In Kolkata, a city also in seismic zone III, tremors are not uncommon due to seismic activity in Nepal or Northeast India. Earlier this year, on January 8, mild tremors were felt in the city after a powerful earthquake in Tibet.
As of now, authorities have not reported any casualties or significant damage from today’s quake. Further updates are awaited. Stay tuned for more information.