An earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale hit the mountainous area of Northeast Afghanistan on Tuesday, sending powerful tremors across neighbouring Pakistan and Northern India.

The quake was centred south of Faizabad, 300 kilometres northeast of Afghanistan capital Kabul, in the Hindu Kush region and hit at 0805 hours (0905 hours IST), the US Geological Survey said.

Panic stricken people rushed out of buildings in Pakistan's capital Islamabad and other parts of the country, which were rattled by strong tremors measuring up to 5.8 on Richter scale.

Two tremors of high intensity were felt in Islamabad and several others parts of the country, including Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, officials said, adding that no reports of damage to life and property had been received so far.

Onkar Singh & Mukhtar Ahmad add:
R S Duttatrehan, director of seismology in Meteorological department in New Delhi, confirmed that a moderate earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale hit Srinagar, Jammu and Delhi around 0905 hours.

"The earthquake had its epicentre in Hindu Kush region in Afghanistan. Some return tremors could be felt later," he told rediff.com over phone. The quake lasted little over five seconds.

It may be recalled that an earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale had rocked the Valley on October 8, 2005, causing massive damage to life and property in the state and Pakistan occupied Kashmir.