A moderate earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale tonight shook Delhi, National Capital Region, Chennai and several parts of eastern and northern India but there were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage to properties.
The quake struck at a depth of 10km in the Bay of Bengal, 60 kms east of Paradip at 9.52 PM, said L S Rathore, Director General, India Meterological Department.
India Meteorological Department statement issued late tonight in Delhi said the quake measured 6.0 on the Richter scale with the epicentre at a depth of 10km in the Bay of Bengal.
Residents in some places of Odisha and Tamil Nadu moved out of their houses as soon as the quake struck and a few buildings developed cracks in Bhubaneshwar where a dozen people were injured in a rush to move out of multi-storeyed buildings.
The tremor was felt for a few seconds in many areas of Odisha, including state capital Bhubaneshwar but it was enough to trigger panic among people who immediately moved out of buildings.
Residents of Punama Gate locality in Old Town area of Bhuaneshwar said cracks had appeared on the walls of some buildings and kitchen utensils fell off the racks.
A report from Cuttack said electricity supply was snapped for about 15 minutes in some areas of the city after the tremor.
Panic gripped several parts of Odisha's Kendrapara district where residents felt the tremors for about 10 seconds.
"We were in the house and felt the jolts. Doors, windows and cots in the house all shook. We were terrified," said Sashmita, a homemaker.
"No casualty or loss of property was reported from any part of the state so far. There is no need to panic," Odisha's Joint Special Relief Commissioner, Prabhat Mohapatra said.
People in Visakhapatnam city came out of their homes in panic.
Tremors were also felt for ten seconds in Kotananduru, Tuni, Pushakhar Ghat and Humupeta, among other areas, of East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh and people living in apartments came out on the streets in panic.
East Godavari District Joint Collector Muthyala Raju told PTI that "we have alerted the district administration, including revenue officials as precautionary measure to prevent any human loss or damage to property."
A Chennai report said tremors were felt in parts of Nungambakkam, Porur and Triplicane where people rushed out of their homes.