A powerful 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan’s Hindukush region on Wednesday. The tremors were felt as far away New Delhi, NCR, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir region in India.
The quake hit at 0707 GMT (1237 IST) near Afghanistan’s northern border with Tajikistan in the Hindu Kush mountains at a depth of 191 kilometres, the US Geological Survey said.
The Hindukush mountain ranges are known to be prone to earthquakes. No casualities have been reported so far.
Panic gripped people in northern region of India, who rushed out of their houses to safety because of the tremors. he tremors were felt around 12.45 p.m. The tremors lasted a few seconds.
Tremors were also felt in most parts of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh. In Himachal Pradesh, the tremors were felt across the state including Shimla, Solan, Dharamsala, Kangra, Palampur, Bilaspur, Una, Hamirpur and Mandi.
The tremors of the earthquake were also felt in the neighbouring country Pakistan.
(further details are awaited)