Moderate quake rattles Islamabad, Lahore

Many other parts of the country also jolted; no loss of life or property reported.

Various parts of the country including Islamabad and Lahore were jolted by a 5.7 magnitude earthquake on Monday.

There were no reports of casualties or financial losses from any area, but the earthquake spread panic and a large number of people came out of their houses following the tremors.

The jolts were felt in Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Mansehra, Peshawar, Sargodha, Murree, Gilgit and adjoining areas. “Tremors were felt at 2:49 pm,“ chief meteorologist Mohammad Riaz told AFP.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the epicentre was in Hindu Kush region, 300 kilometres away from Peshawar. The depth was reported to be 192 kilometres.

The US Geological Survey confirmed the earthquake and magnitude, adding that it struck at a depth of 184.6 kilometres.

The 7.6-magnitude earthquake on October 8, 2005 killed more than 73,000 people and left about 3.5 million homeless, mainly in Kashmir and parts of KhyberPakhtunkhwa.

WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM AFP

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2011.