NEW DELHI: Strong tremors jolted parts of northern India and Pakistan on Saturday after a 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan, the National Center for Seismology confirmed. The quake hit at 12:17 PM (IST), sending waves of panic through cities like Delhi, NCR, and Jammu & Kashmir. People rushed out of homes and offices as buildings swayed. “I was at work when my chair suddenly shook,” shared a Srinagar resident, describing the brief but unsettling moment. So far, no casualties or major damage have been reported on the Indian side, but officials remain on high alert and are monitoring the situation closely. Widespread Tremors in Pakistan Across the border, Pakistan also experienced strong seismic activity earlier in the day. The National Seismic Monitoring Centre in Islamabad recorded a 5.9 magnitude quake at 11:47 AM (local time), with its epicenter near the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border at a depth of 94 kilometers. Tremors were widely felt across Islamabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, and several areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Malakand, Nowshera, and Bajaur. While residents in these regions reported panic and rushed outdoors, authorities confirmed no reports of injuries or property damage. This quake is the second to hit the region within a week — following a 5.5 magnitude tremor last Saturday that rattled Pakistan’s capital and nearby provinces. Pakistan remains one of South Asia’s most seismically active zones, with the devastating 2005 quake still a painful memory, having claimed over 74,000 lives. Public Poll: How Prepared Are You? As tremors become more frequent in the region, it raises an important question — what’s the one safety measure everyone should know during an earthquake? Would you: 🟢 Drop, Cover, and Hold 🟢 Rush Outside 🟢 Head for the Stairs 🟢 Stay Indoors Near a Wall