New Delhi: An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.6 hit remote northwestern Pakistan near the Afghan border on Sunday, shaking buildings in the Afghan and Pakistan capitals, witnesses and the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.
The USGS said the quake was centred near Chitral in Pakistan at a depth of 210km. It struck 282km northeast of the Afghan capital Kabul.
Tremors were also felt in the Indian capital and in Kashmir, witnesses said, forcing residents to leave homes. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The Delhi underground system was also halted briefly, commuters told the NDTV channel.
In Islamabad, terrified residents fled their homes and offices as buildings swayed. Television footage is reported to show people praying in public.
Pakistani official Arif Ullah told the Associated Press that the earthquake measured 7.1 on the Richter scale, contrary to the USGS's statement that is measured 6.6. Ullah said that the earthquake was centered near Afghanistan's border with Tajikistan.
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when #Earthquake jolts were felt in parts of North India, visuals from Srinagar airport #Kashmir https://t.co/vkxdxGvzSr
— Encrypted Layman!!! (@FreddieFaizan) April 10, 2016
7.1!! May Allah protect everyone..praying for everyones safety after the massive earthquake..Allah humma aj'al al khair..
— Dr Mariamnaqsh (@MariamNaqsh) April 10, 2016
#Earthquake Terrible. pic.twitter.com/SKW7mibFNz
— Dushyant K. Mahant (@DKMahant) April 10, 2016
Earthquake tremors felt in parts of North India including Mohali. Our players have been evacuated from their hotel. No casualties!
— The Gujarat Lions (@TheGujaratLions) April 10, 2016
Members of @TheGujaratLions #IPL team forced to evactuate their hotel after an earthquake https://t.co/iLEevk9d8N pic.twitter.com/ZQK72xBEL8
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) April 10, 2016
The initial reading shows 6.8 on the Richter scale. The PMD says its 7.1 #Pakistan #Earthquake . pic.twitter.com/ptrfYjafMS
— Iftikhar Firdous (@IftikharFirdous) April 10, 2016
#earthquake in #delhi what's going on folks?
— Mohit Yadav, IFS (@mohitfreedom) April 10, 2016
Looks like Delhi is trembling... #earthquake ??
— Paresh Rawal (@Babu_Bhaiyaa) April 10, 2016