Saturday, October 8 2005 12:17 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: Massive destruction has been caused in Uri sector in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, which falls close to the epicenter of today's (0ct 8, 2005) severe earthquake, Defence officials said.

Destruction is massive in Uri sector. Initial reports are that not many houses are standing in the area, they said.

Officials said due to earthquake a fire has broken out in Uri, which had damaged some houses.

"There are casualties but how many, we can't say as yet as we are focusing on rescue operations. Army has been pressed into the operations," the officials said.

Meanwhile, tremors are still being felt in Srinagar and other places of the Kashmir valley intermittently.

Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was disrupted as mounds of earth from a hillock fell on the road at Karol near Ramban.

While heavy vehicles are still stranded on the highway, traffic authorities are letting light vehicles pass.

There were reports of house collapse in Batut and Doda.

In Jammu, several houses developed cracks in the old city. Power, water and telephone services have been disrupted across the state. Mobile phones are, however, working.