By Muhammad Luqman
A powerful earthquake with 6.1 magnitude on Richter scale struck Pakistan, Afghanistan and India, according to Seismological centre.
The epicentre was near Afghanistan’s Jarm, which was hit by a devastating 7.5 magnitude quake in October 2015 that triggered landslides and flattened buildings, killing more than 380 people across the region.
At least one infant was killed and nine of her family members reported injured in southwest Pakistan’s Balochistan province, following the collapse of a roof on their home in Lasbela town.
The temblor was felt in the Afghan capital Kabul and the Pakistan capital Islamabad and elsewhere in both countries.
Delhi and several parts of northern India also experienced tremors.
? The tremors, lasting a few seconds, forced people in the Indian capital to run out of their homes and offices. Delhi Metro Train immediately halted operations.
The jolts of the earthquake were felt in Balochistan, Khaber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Northern Areas, Islamabad Capital Territory and other adjoining areas.
Panic gripped among the citizens as people were seen running out to open areas after the quake.
The 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck at a depth of 178km in the Badakhshan province of Afghanistan in the Hindukush region, according to the US Geological Survey.
National Seismic Monitoring Centre Director Zahid Rafi said that Pakistan experienced two earthquakes today.
“The first earthquake of 4.9 magnitude struck Balochistan’s Bela town at 10am,” he said, adding that “the second earthquake’s tremors were felt in Pakistan at 12:07pm.”
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, at least 10 people were reported injured, including from stampedes.
Panicked residents of the affected towns dashed out of their homes and offices when the tremors struck.
In the capital, Islamabad, state buildings, including the Supreme Court and Parliament, were also evacuated as the tremors struck.
People, some confused and others scared, took to social media to report their experiences:
