NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Indian authorities said on Saturday there were no initial reports of critical damage to buildings and infrastructure, or casualties, in the northern states after a major earthquake shook the central Asian country of Tajikistan on Friday night.
The U.S. Geological Survey put the quake’s magnitude at 5.9 and located 35 km (55 miles) west of Tajikistan in Central Asia.
While people were prepared to go to bed on Friday, residents in the northern states of India and in Pakistan and Afghanistan felt strong tremors.
“Preliminary reports indicate that there was no destruction or collapse of buildings, but we will investigate whether cracks have developed in dams, bridges or power stations,” said SK Singh, an official at the National Disaster Management Authority in New York. Delhi.
No casualties have been reported so far, he said, adding that the quake lasted a long time and could damage some parts of residential and public properties.
Fire brigade said there were reports of superficial damage to buildings due to the earthquake, which forced tens of thousands of people outside their homes in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and New Delhi.
(Written by Rupam Jain; edited by Michael Perry)