Modi telephones Mufti, takes stock of post-quake situation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to take stock of the situation after a major earthquake jolted the state on Monday.

"Spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and took stock of the situation arising due to the unfortunate earthquake," the prime minister said in a statement.

An earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter Scale and with its epicentre in Afghanistan shook large parts of north India, causing widespread panic.

There were no reports of casualties but there was major damage to property in Kashmir.

Most multi-storey public and private buildings in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, suffered huge cracks.

Dozens of houses and school buildings collapsed in southern and central parts of the Kashmir Valley, officials and residents said.

Traffic came to an abrupt halt as vehicles started swinging on shaking roads in the valley. A traffic flyover in Srinagar developed cracks.