Quake jolts Indian-controlled Kashmir

A moderate earthquake on Monday shook Indian-controlled Kashmir and its adjoining areas, officials said.

According to Meteorological Department officials in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir, the 6.2-magnitude earthquake occurred at 3:35 p.m. local time. "The epicentre of the earthquake was in Hindukush region of Afghanistan located 36.5 degrees north latitude and 71.3 degrees east longitude," said an official at Meteorological Department of Srinagar.

The earthquake was felt throughout Kashmir and triggered panic among residents, officials said.

However, no reports of damage were received so far from any part of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Reports said tremors were also felt in other cities in India including capital city New Delhi.

Geologists said Indian-controlled Kashmir is located in a zone of high seismic activity.

Srinagar falls in Seismic Zone-V and other parts of Indian- controlled Kashmir in Seismic Zone IV.

A high intensity 7.4 magnitude quake with its epicentre in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan- controlled Kashmir shook the region on Oct. 8, 2005, causing large scale destruction and 80,000 deaths.