Indian-controlled Kashmir severely hit by Hindu Kush quake: report

Indian-controlled Kashmir has been severely hit by a strong earthquake with its epicenter at the Afghan-Pakistan border area, said local media on Monday.

The quake has caused huge damage to property across the Kashmir Valley although there were no reports of casualties so far, said Indo-Asian News Service.

Cracks appeared in most multi-storeyed public and private buildings and a flyover in Srinagar, while major damage was reported to dozens of government and private buildings in Badgam, Anantnag, Baramulla, Pulwama, Kulgam, Kupwara, Bandipora and Ganderbal districts, said the report.

People in the entire Valley abandoned offices, business places and homes and ran out into the open in order to avoid being caught in building collapses. Traffic came to abrupt halt in the Valley due to the tremor, it said.

Cellphone connections were down in some regions. Enditem