Earthquake tremors felt In Delhi, parts of North India

Strong tremors jolted parts of north India, including Delhi-NCR, on Tuesday night as an earthquake of magnitude 6.6 struck the Hindu Kush region in Afghanistan.

Panic-stricken people rushed out of buildings as the earthquake struck around 10.20 pm and was also felt in Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan.

There was no immediate report of any loss of life or property. According to an automated report generated by the National Centre for Seismology, the 6.6 magnitude quake struck 133 km southeast of Fayzabad in Afghanistan.

ANI reported that the earthquake tremors were felt in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab as well.

"Very strong tremors of earthquake were felt and all the devotees rushed out. With Maa Vaishno Devi's blessings, there was no loss of lives and they are returning to their hotels," a guest house owner told ANI in Katra in Jammu and Kashmir.

A resident of Ghaziabad told ANI that people rushed to the ground in the building in which he resides. "All of us came running down out of fear. Every person felt the tremors of the earthquake on every floor of the building. So we are here in the ground," he said. A woman in Delhi said she was asleep when she suddenly saw the fan wobbling. "I got up and brought my mother and pet outside the house. We felt the tremors for approximately one-and-a-half minutes," she said.

An Amritsar shopowner said he was sleeping and was woken up by strong tremors. "I saw the fan shaking. The tremors lasted long."

Calls regarding tilted buildings and cracks appearing in buildings were received from Jamia Nagar, Kalkaji and Shahdara areas. Fire services teams have been sent to these areas after which it will be ascertained as to what has happened exactly, Delhi Fire Services told ANI.

"I was sleeping when I felt it, I rushed out with my mother and dog. The entire colony was already outside. The tremors could be felt for a long time," a resident, Neha said.

While adults were gripped by panic and anxiety, several children had a few moments of fun as they played with their friends in parks where their parents had assembled.

"In logon ke maze hain (They are having fun)," the father of a boy told PTI, gesturing towards his son and his friend, both around 4-5 years, who were busy playing on a slide.

Similar scenes of crowds rushing out of their homes were reported from high-rise societies in other areas of Noida like Sector 75, 76, 77, 78, 120 and 137, 142.

With inputs from agencies