Earthquake of magnitude 5.1 strikes near Odisha’s Puri, tremors felt across coastal districts
By Sukant Mohanty
Bhubaneswar, Feb. 25: An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale jolted parts of Odisha early Tuesday morning, with tremors felt across coastal districts from Balasore to Paradip. The National Center for Seismology (NCS) reported that the earthquake occurred at approximately 6:10 am, with its epicentre located in the Bay of Bengal, about 286 km east of Puri.
“The quake originated at a depth of 91 km, with its epicentre pinpointed at latitude 19.52 N and longitude 88.55 E,” according to a post on X (formerly Twitter) by the NCS. The tremors were felt not only in Odisha’s capital, Bhubaneswar, but also in nearby towns, including Chandipur, Cuttack, and Paradip.
Reports suggest the shaking lasted for a few seconds, prompting concerns among early morning walkers and residents.
Despite the widespread tremors, the impact was categorised as mild due to the offshore epicentre. There were no reports of casualties or structural damages as of the latest updates. However, the seismic event was felt as far as parts of West Bengal and Bangladesh, as well as western Odisha, including towns like Rourkela and Sambalpur.
Reports said the local authorities are on alert, and the NCS continues to monitor for any aftershocks. No tsunami warning has been issued.
