PESHAWAR, April 6: A high-intensity earthquake jolted NWFP, Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Northern Areas, Hazara region, Islamabad, Lahore, and parts of Azad Kashmir and Afghanistan on the night between Monday and Tuesday. The magnitude of the earthquake was 6.8 on the Richter scale, meteorologists and officials said here.

An official of the local Met office, Chaudhry Mahmood Ahmad Arif, told Dawn on Tuesday that the epicentre of the earthquake was in Hindukush range, 250 kilometres north of Peshawar. The quake struck at around 2.24am and its duration was one minute, Met office said.

The earthquake which shook Peshawar city caused great panic and terrified inhabitants, who came out into open to save their lives. However, no casualty report received from any part of the city. "The earthquake was 196.2 kilometres deep, otherwise it could have caused severe destruction in the region", Mr Arif said.

He informed that a mild intensity earthquake, that had struck Mansehra district in February this year had killed 21 people and destroyed a large number of houses, although it was only 5.7 on the Richter scale.

Our Correspondent from Gilgit adds: An earthquake of severe intensity hit all the five districts of the Northern Areas on early Tuesday around 2.23am PST which was registered 6.8 at Richter scale.

The quake had its epicentre 200kms west of Gilgit in Hindukush mountain range, Met office said. No loss of life or property was reported. In some areas the jolts caused small mudslides on the roads.

Meanwhile the residents of a village Oshikhandas in the vicinity of Gilgit said they had been experiencing underground explosions for the past 20 days and were continued after intervals.

AGENCY ADDS: Islamabad residents were woken in the pre-dawn dark by a series of strong vibrations that shook beds, floors and walls for up to one minute. A presidential spokesman said several northeastern cities were shaken by the quake but there was no known damage.

The earthquake also jolted Sialkot and its adjoining areas. No loss of life and property has so far been reported from any part of Sialkot district. The Afghan Islamic Press reported that the jolt was also felt in Kabul and several other parts of Afghanistan, but there were no reports of casualties.