Kolkata office evacuation during earthquake turns into ‘sutta break’. Netizens call it ‘disturbing’

Employees in Kolkata office smoke during earthquake evacuation. (Image: _sha._.zia_ / Instagram)

Recently, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Myanmar, sending tremors that were felt across Kolkata and parts of Bangladesh. The brief but noticeable shaking prompted evacuations from offices and residential buildings, as people stepped outside to ensure their safety.

In one Kolkata office, however, the evacuation took an unexpected turn. Instead of remaining alert, several employees used the moment as an impromptu break, a scene that quickly caught the attention of social media users.

A video shared on Instagram by an employee at a telecommunications company shows workers leaving the office building via staircases and moving to open ground outside. Once outside, many of them appeared relaxed, chatting in groups and lighting cigarettes, taking what seemed like an unscheduled break in the middle of their shifts.

The caption on the video read, “Earthquake (cross emoji), sutta break (check mark emoji).” The woman who posted the clip added, “Earthquake less and more of a content. We were asked to evacuate, and people simply had another sutta break.” She concluded on a serious note, “Jokes apart, hope everyone is fine.”

The clip quickly went viral, drawing reactions from social media users. One wrote, “Ha ha ha, seriously, earthquake feel nehi kiya, but sutta break was necessary.” (Ha ha ha, seriously, didn’t feel the earthquake, but a cigarette break was necessary.)

Other users joked, “Building evacuated… Smoking zone filled.” and “Jab tak niche jayenge tab tak earthquake khatam” (By the time we go downstairs, the earthquake will be over.)

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A post shared by Shazia (@_sha._.zia_)

However, not all reactions were humorous. Some described the clip as “disturbing” and a reflection of the “dark reality of nowadays.” Several users expressed concern that people often treat safety protocols lightly and prioritise convenience over caution. One comment pointed out, “Aur Diwali me rona chalu karenge 'Air Pollution Air Pollution.'” Others added that the video showed how people sometimes ignore safety rules and treat serious situations lightly.

Disclaimer: Cigarette smoking is  injurious to health. This report is based on user-generated content shared on social media. Moneycontrol has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.