New Delhi: Strong tremors rocked large parts of north India, including the national capital and its adjoining areas on Tuesday evening. Tremors were also felt in Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh.

The quake measured 7.8 on the Richter Scale at its epicentre on the Pakistan-Iran border.

“The epicentre of the quake was the Pakistan-Iran border and it measured 7.8 on the Richter scale,” V Dattatreya, head, seismology, India Meteorological Department (IMD), said. The quake took place at 4.14 pm (IST) at a depth of 33 km, an official said.

The strong tremors lasted several seconds, leading to panic in many places. People rushed out of their offices and homes in the National Capital Region.

Tall buildings shook in New Delhi, sending people running into the streets, witnesses said. People also evacuated shaking buildings in Qatar and Dubai, residents said.

Across the Gulf, high-rise buildings swayed and officials ordered evacuations.