Magnitude 4.9 earthquake jolts Bangladesh-India border region

A moderate earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale struck the Bangladesh-India border region on Tuesday afternoon, causing brief panic among residents in the northeastern parts of the country.

The tremor occurred at 2:48 pm (Bangladesh time) with its epicenter located in Silchar area of India's Assam state, approximately 350 kilometers from Dhaka. 

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the earthquake originated 11 kilometers northwest of Silchar city at a depth of 10 kilometers below the surface.

Residents in Sylhet and Moulvibazar districts along with other border areas felt the shaking, prompting many to rush out of buildings in panic. The tremor was also felt across various parts of Assam in India.

Authorities have not reported any significant damage to property or casualties from the earthquake so far.

Bangladesh and northeastern India lie in a seismically active zone, making the region prone to periodic earthquakes. The shallow depth of Tuesday's tremor at just 10 kilometers contributed to it being felt across a wider area despite its moderate magnitude.