Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Several areas in Upper Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa felt jolts of moderate earthquake late Monday night at 01:33am, triggering panic among the residents of the affected areas, SAMAA reports Tuesday.

According to US Geological Survey, the 5.4 magnitude tremor hit vast areas inlcuding Punjab's upper areas i.e. Jhelum, Rawalpindi and Islamabad and Northern areas i.e. Khyber Agency, Mardan, Malakand Agency, Kashmir areas, Murree, Shangla, Skardu, Swat, Lower Dir, Chitral, Neelum Valley and Peshawar.

The epicenter of the quake is situated 72 kilometers (44 miles) to the north east of Mansehra.

According to Pakistan's Meteorological Department, earthquake of medium 4.6 magnitude was recorded on the Richter scale in the vicinity of Skardu.

The panic-stricken people, bursting out of their houses, took to streets and open areas with Kalima sharifa and verses from the holy Quran on their lips. SAMAA