ISLAMABAD, Nov 6: A severe aftershock measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale and two mild aftershocks rattled earthquake-battered northern Pakistan injuring seven people early on Sunday, the seismological department said.

The strongest aftershock since October 8 struck the capital Islamabad, NWFP and Azad Kashmir at 7.12am, a department official told AFP.

It had its epicentre 120 kilometres north of Islamabad and rattled the cities of Peshawar, Malakand, Swat, Mansehra, Balakot, Muzaffarabad and Rawlakot, he said.

Earlier, two mild aftershocks measuring 4.5 and 4.7 on the Richter scale were felt in Balakot, Mansehra and Muzaffarabad at 1.42am and 4.04 am, he said.

The aftershocks panicked residents who abandoned their homes and tents to rush to safety, witnesses said.

The military said they rescued seven people in Lundi village in Batgram district where the severe aftershock caused their house to collapse.

“The injured, including two children, were shifted to a field hospital where military doctors provided them with treatment,” an official told AFP.

Since Oct 8, 1,201 aftershocks have hit the regions with more expected until the middle of November, the seismological department website said late Sunday.

“The frequency of the aftershocks has decreased now, but aftershocks are likely to continue with falling magnitude/frequency till mid of this month,” it said. —AFP