Kolkata, April 25 (IANS): People rushed out of homes and schools while offices were vacated and metro rail services were halted when a high intensity earthquake hit Kolkata and parts of Bengal on Saturday.

The first tremor was felt at 11.41 a.m. It continued for around two minutes.

"Suddenly people started saying their heads were reeling, fans were shaking. Tables and chairs were shaking. Papers flew here and there. As realisation dawned that it was an earthquake, people made a dash for the exit. Within a couple of minutes, the office was empty," said K. Chakraborty, an employee of a nationalised bank here.

Panic stricken students and teachers came out of classes. A few youngsters started crying. But most of them could not fathom what was happening.

Another tremor was felt at 12.19 p.m.

Doors did not close and metro trains did not move in India's oldest metro rail system, the Kolkata Metro.

Authorities made announcements through the public address system asking commuters to move outside. The commuters were then evacuated.

Streets were choc-a-bloc with people. Some were in their office wear, most in their casuals and night wear. All were worried and afraid.

At a television studio in Kolkata, a programme on the municipal poll was abruptly halted as lights blinked and furniture shook. All the participants, including the anchor stood up.