Bengal CM appeals to people to stay calm

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday urged the residents to stay calm in the wake of tremors felt in several parts of the state.

"Earthquake has once again struck many parts of our state and other parts of the country and abroad. I appeal to our people to maintain calm. Our government will provide all support," she posted on Facebook.

She said round-the-clock control room has been opened at the state secretariat in Nabanna in nearby Howrah. The numbers are 1070 and 22143526.

Kolkata Metro services were halted due to the tremors, which were also felt in Murshidabad, Durgapur, Siliguri and other places in the state.

"An earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale was felt in Nepal on Tuesday. The tremors felt in Bengal were weak in comparison to the jolts in Nepal. Aftershocks may continue," Devendra Pradhan, deputy director general of meteorology (eastern region), Regional Meteorological Centre, Kolkata, told IANS.

The tremors at 12.35 p.m. caused panic and there were reports of people rushing out of houses and offices, and some falling from stairs.

Cell phone services were disrupted in several stretches.