Quake hits Afghanistan, Pakistan

An earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale today hit mountainous area of northeast Afghanistan, sending powerful tremors across neighbouring Pakistan.

The quake was centred just south of Faizabad, 300 kilometres northeast of Afghanistan capital Kabul, in the Hindu Kush region and hit at 8:05 AM (0905 hrs IST), the US Geological Survey said.

Panic stricken people rushed out of buildings in Pakistan's capital and other parts of the country which were rattled by strong tremors measuring up to 5.8 on Richter scale.

Two tremors of high intensity have been felt in Islamabad, several others parts of the country as well as Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), officials said.

The temblor was felt in Islamabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Peshawar at around 0905 hrs IST, they said.

No reports of damage to life and property have been received so far.

Mild tremors were felt in northern parts of the country, including Jammu and Kashmir, where people rushed out of their houses for safety.

There were no immediate reports of any casualty or loss to property.

The Met office said an earthquake of 5.9 magnitude on the Richter Scale shook parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh at 9:05 AM.

"The earthquake had its epicentre in the Hindukush mountains in Afghanistan," a Met official said. The Hindukush is about 900 km from here.

Slight tremors were also felt in parts of New Delhi.

"The tremors were felt around 9:00 AM and they lasted for about five to six seconds," a resident of East Delhi said.

According to reports from Himachal Pradesh, the tremor was felt in the Chamba and Dharamshala regions of the state.

People in several parts of Punjab, including Chandigarh and Jalandhar also felt the tremors.