Fresh produce escapes earthquake damage

Rescue efforts are being stepped up to help those affected by the magnitude-7.5 earthquake which hit remote areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan on Monday. There were also reports of aftershocks being felt in Quetta, Pakistan late Tuesday morning.

More than 300 people are known to have died, most of them in Pakistan, and at least 2,000 were injured.

Rescue teams have been sent to remote mountainous areas where the impact of the quake is still unclear.

Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said about 76 people had been killed and 268 injured. The numbers were expected to rise, he warned.

The governor of Badakhshan province, Shah Waliullah Adeeb, said survey teams were heading into more remote areas on Tuesday but rocks and landslides had blocked roads and helicopters were needed.

In Pakistan, at least 231 people were killed and 1,632 injured.

Pakistani kinnow and mango exporter, Saline Sadruddin located in Bhalwal, Pakistan said that there was no damage in the immediate area.

The earthquake was also felt in neighbouring India, mainly in the north of the country.

Kalpesh Khivasara from INI Farms: "We are actually based in the western part of India whereas the earthquake was in the northern part. It is possible the apple and walnut production might be affected in India – however, I don’t have the complete details."

Nina Patil from Fresh Express: "The earthquake has affected mainly parts of North India and we, in the South, namely, Maharashtra really have not felt any tremors at all."