Earthquake claims 37 lives in Pakistan occupied Kashmir

The death toll in the devastating earthquake that rattled Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and several north-eastern cities in the country rose to 37 today as authorities stepped up rescue operations to save people trapped in the debris of several toppled buildings.

According to the US Geological Survey, the epicentre of the powerful



5.8 magnitude earthquake, which occurred last afternoon was near Mirpur city roughly 20 kilometres north of Jhelum in Punjab.

The number of casualties was likely to increase as around 100 of the injured were admitted to different hospitals in a critical condition.