On Friday, an earthquake considered “moderate” struck Bangladesh. Its epicenter was in the Narsingdi district, about 33 km from the capital Dhaka. The tremor lasted approximately 26 seconds and caused significant shaking in Dhaka and neighbouring regions, including Kolkata in India. Fatalities and injuries were reported—casualties mainly caused by collapsing roofs and walls. Numerous buildings in Dhaka tilted or sustained damage.
Mild tremors have been reported in the region throughout November, highlighting ongoing seismic activity. A 5.8-magnitude event which struck Assam on September 13, 2025, caused injuries and damage to buildings in central and northern parts.
The earthquake near Dhaka was reported with magnitudes varying between 5.5 and 5.7 on the Richter scale by different sources. The official data cites the magnitude as 5.7—considered “moderate”.
The fact is that earthquakes themselves do not kill; the shaking and forces they generate cause structural failures. Seismic vibrations induce stresses and damage in building materials, particularly in weak or poorly designed parts, resulting in cracks, breakages, and eventual collapse.
Therefore, a building’s design, material strength, and construction quality determine how it will withstand an earthquake’s effects. Yesterday’s quake, resulting from “reverse faulting within the Indian Plate at a shallow depth of 10 km,” caused fatalities and injuries—many due to collapsing buildings and falling debris—and once again raised concerns about earthquake preparedness in densely populated areas of the region.
The region is significantly earthquake-prone due to its location at the junction of major tectonic plates—including the Indian Plate, the Eurasian Plate, and the Burmese Plate. India, especially the entire Northeast, is highly earthquake-prone and classified as Zone V—the highest risk category—including states like Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, and parts of West Bengal such as Kolkata.
The region has a history of devastating earthquakes, including the 1950 Assam quake. The area is tectonically active due to complex plate movements and multiple fault lines. Adding to the seismic activity are the region’s soft alluvial soils, which amplify tremors and increase damage risks during earthquakes.
Regions in India with the highest infrastructure seismic risk, apart from the entire Northeast, include parts of the Kashmir Valley, Western and Garhwal Himalayas, North Bihar, the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. These areas fall under seismic Zone V, the highest risk category, where severe earthquakes are likely.
Zone IV regions include Delhi, parts of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and West Bengal. According to experts, in these zones, infrastructure must be specially designed for earthquake resilience due to frequent and strong seismic activity.