North India rocked by 5.7 quake, no reports of casualties

A "moderate" intensity earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter Scale with its epicentre at the Indo-Nepal border region shook North India on Monday evening but there was no immediate report of any loss of life or property.

Indian Meteorological Department officials here and in Chandigarh said the 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck at 5.02 PM and was of "moderate" intensity. However, the US Geological Survey Department put the magnitude at 5.4 in its website.

"The quake was epicentred at Indo-Nepal border," the the officials said, adding, "there will be no aftershocks."

"We are keeping our fingers crossed," they said.

Police and fire brigade said there was no report of any casualty or damage immediately in the national Capital.

The officials said tremors were felt for three seconds amid reports that people at several places came out in the open with the recent massive quake in Japan weighing in their minds.

Besides Delhi, Tremors were also felt in quake prone Uttarakhand state and in the Union territory of Chandigarh.

The earthquake jolted Dehra Dun, Nainital and other parts of the hill state of Uttarakhand, according to preliminary reports.

The US Geological survey said the epicentre was 130 km from Haldwani in Uttarakhand and 363 km from New Delhi. The depth of the quake was 12.5 km, it added.

Narora atomic power plant in Bulandsahar in Uttar Pradesh is located in seismic Zone IV.

Tremors were felt in Chandigarh but no loss of life or damage to property was reported from any part of the Union Territory.

At some places, people scampered out of their homes in panic, officials said.

The earthquake also jolted Dehra Dun, Nainital and other parts of the hill state of Uttarakhand.