Quake strikes Afghanistan, kills 30 in Pakistan: Tremors felt in India

A high-intensity earthquake which struck Afghanistan on October 26, killed 30 people in Pakistan. The tremors were also felt in India in the states of Jammu and Kashmir, NCR of Delhi, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan. No casualties were reported in India.

The epicenter of the earthquake was in a remote area in Afghanistan in the Hindukush mountain region. The quake was 213 km (132 miles) deep and centred 254 km (158 miles) northeast of Kabul. The US Geological Survey measured the intensity of the quake at 7.5 on the Richter scale. Cell phone coverage remained down in the affected areas in Afghanistan after the quake.

The earthquake is the second major one in the region after the massive quake in Nepal in May. Nearly 9,000 people lost their lives and 900,000 homes were damaged or destroyed in the Nepal quake. The region from Iran to Northeast India is known to be seismically active. “According to National Center for Seismology, a unit of Ministry of Earth Science, the epicenter of the earthquake was the Hindukush mountain range, known to be a high seismic zone.”

India to help neighbours

Responding to the news of the massive earthquake, India has offered all assistance to Afghanistan and Pakistan. “Heard about strong earthquake in Afghanistan-Pakistan region whose tremors have been felt in parts of India. I pray for everyone’s safety,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted. “I have asked for an urgent assessment, and we stand ready for assistance where required, including Afghanistan and Pakistan,” he added. Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asked residents not to panic and said disaster management teams have been pressed into action.

As per the latest reports from various news sources, the maximum cases of death have been reported in Pakistan.

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