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Quake jolts Afghanistan, Pak, India

Kabul, January 3
An earthquake today shook parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan, rattling windows and sending frightened residents running out of their homes.

Scientists from the seismic centre in the northern Pakistan city of Peshawar said the quake, which struck at 12.05 p.m. local time (1235 hrs IST), measured 5.8 on the Richter scale and its epicentre was in the Hindukush mountain range in Afghanistan.

Speaking on satellite phone from Talooqan, the provincial capital of Afghanistan’s Takhar province, Mohammad Osman described the quake as “very intense”, but said he had not heard of any damage.

It was felt also in the Pakistan capital, Islamabad, and other parts of the country.

NEW DELHI: Tremors of a powerful earthquake were experienced in the Capital and Jammu and Kashmir today, forcing people to scurry out of their homes.

The temblor was epicentered somewhere in the Hindukush mountains at a latitude of 36°N and 70.1°E.

The tremors of the quake — lasting 35 seconds — were experienced in Jammu and Kashmir also.

Residents of Delhi also fled for safety as the windows of their houses, especially in Trans-Yamuna areas, rattled under the impact of the tremor which was felt for more than 20 seconds. It was measured 3.0 on the Richter scale in the Capital.

CHANDIGARH: As windows and doors rattled, people rushed out of their offices, business establishments and houses into the open.

Though the tremor was felt in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, besides Chandigarh, no loss of life or property has been reported from anywhere so far.

Reports quoting Seismology Department sources in Dharamsala said the tremor, measuring more than 5.5 on the Richter scale was felt in various parts of Himachal Pradesh. The tremor was felt in Kangra valley, which is vulnerable to earthquakes because it being in the seismic zone V.

Reports of tremor had also come in from Chamba district, bordering Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, Shimla, Naddi, Palampur and other towns of the Kangra valley.

Kangra Additional Deputy Commissioner Rahul Anand said though people ran out in panic, yet there was no report of any loss of life or damage to property from anywhere in the valley. Reuters, UNI