According to the Regional Meteorological Centre in Alipore, the intensity of the six-second tremor was “slight”. The magnitude of the quake was 4.0 on the Richter scale.

“The epicentre of the earthquake was located in Bankura at latitude 23.6 degree north and 87.1 degree east longitude,” said officials of the Met department.

The tremor triggered panic among the people who rushed out of their homes and offices in the open. The quake led to power disruption at many places and several schools declared a holiday.

There were also reports of buildings developing cracks. However, no casualty was reported.

On December 26 last year, one person was killed as an earthquake hit Kolkata and North and South 24 Parganas, East and West Midnapore, Bankura, Burdwan, Nadia and the tourist town of Digha.