Earth quake hits north India, Pakistan and Afghanistan

A massive earth quake measuring 7.5 on Richter scale shakes north India around 2.40 pm nearly for one minute on Monday afternoon. Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan are among the states witnessed earth quake. Delhi Metro Rail services were halted for a while as a precautionary measure. No loss of lives were reported from anywhere in the country.

The epicenter of the earthquake is identified at the depth of 190 kms in Hindu Kush Mountain range between Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, the earthquake with same magnitude leaves devastating effects on Afghanistan and Pakistan. Hundreds of buildings were collapsed and thousands of people injured in both countries. According to available information around 50-70 people were killed in Pakistan and 21 people in Afghanistan. But the death toll may steeply raise as hundreds of people were trapped under the debris.

Islamabad, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Lahore cities are worst effected in the earthquake. Rescue teams have started working in all places. Hospitals in quake affected cities are overcrowded with the injured persons. Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani and offered help to the quake victims.