MANSEHRA, Feb 14: At least 15 people were killed 40 injured after two earthquakes measuring 5.7 and 5.5 on the Richter Scale struck parts of the NWFP, Azad Kashmir and Islamabad on Saturday evening.

However, a late night report of a satellite TV channel put the death toll at 21 people.

According to reports reaching here, snow-clad Kaghan Valley, Knosh and Bhogarmang valleys of the Mansehra district and Allai tehsil of Batgram were the worst hit by the two tremors.

About 206 houses were hit by the quake, with six structures collapsed completely and some 200 partially damaged, according to Mansehra police.

The Mansehra district police office told Dawn by telephone that about 70 per cent houses had been partially damaged in the Tangai area.

In the Allai tehsil, the earthquake caused a landslide which buried a Datsun pick-up NoBM-460, killing 12 passengers and the driver on the spot.

In Shamlai area of the Batgram district, a 10-year-old boy was killed after the wall of his house collapsed.

Over 100 houses collapsed in Kaghan Valley, 75 in Hangrai, 20 in Paras and five in village Jigan.

In Satbanni area of Balokot tehsil, Mohammad Anwar was killed and a woman, Qasim Jan, was injured after roof of their home caved in.

Of the 40 injured, condition of five people is reported to be critical. Two of the critically injured people have been admitted to the Ayub Hospital Complex, Abbottabad; two in Civil Hospital, Balakot; and one in the DHQ Hospital, Mansehra.

Reports reaching here say that heavy snowfall in the Kaghan valley has blocked the main road, badly hampering relief efforts in the area.

According to police sources, the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) was busy in clearing the road at Jariad and other parts of the valley.

The Health Department has sent a mobile team to Jaraid to provide first aid to the earthquake victims.

The names of some of those injured in Baloakot tehsil are: Ms Qasim Jan, Ms Zenat, Rehmat Noor, Bibi Gulzar, Ms Faiza, Viqas and Mohammad Tayyab.

In Jabori area of Konsh valley, those injured have been identified as Rahim Jan, Munshi and Qari Abdul Basit. Despite repeated attempts, this scribe could not contact the local administration and police of Kohistan district as all telephone lines were either found dead or engaged till the filing of this report.