An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale shook Sikkim and adjoining areas Thursday, causing panic, officials said. There were no reports of damage or casualties.
The India Meteorological Department in New Delhi said the quake, whose epicentre lay away from Gangtok, was felt at 11.43 a.m.
The Sikkim government immediately convened a meeting of senior officials to take note of the situation.
The tremors forced people to rush out of their homes. Schools, colleges and offices quickly closed down.
"At first we lost the TV network, then the entire building shook," said Tashi Choden, a resident of Gangtok.
The tremors were also felt in Siliguri, Darjeeling and Kalimpong in West Bengal.
--Indo-Asian News Service
shr/mr
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