SRINAGAR, India-contralled Kashmir, Oct. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- The death roll of the earthquake that hit Pakistan and north India Sunday rose to 157, including 15 soldiers, in India-controlled Kashmir, said local government official.

    Hundreds were injured and more than 500 houses collapsed in different parts of India-controlled Kashmir, said Vijay Bakaya, a senior officer of the local government in a press conference in Srinagar.

    Reports from Baramulla and nearby areas said that nearly 20 people have died there. According to NDTV, 500 people were injured there and Baramulla town has been shut down.

    According to the reports reaching Xinhua, the worst affected was Uri near the Line of Control where nearly 200 houses collapsed and two buses with passengers on board fell into gorge.

    The earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale and epicentred in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir shook Pakistan, north India and Afghanistan at about 9:25 a.m. Saturday.

    State Law Minister Muzzaffar Hussain Beigh said the government is taking every steps to provide medical facilities to the victims.

     The tremors were also felt in Delhi, western Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and in Ahmedabad.

     Fifteen soldiers were killed and scores of others injured alongthe Line of Control as a number of bunker building collapsed due to the massive earthquake, defense sources said.

    "We have received information of fatal injuries to 15 soldiers along the Line of Control in Northern districts of Kupwara and Baramulla," the sources said.

    They added that the Army and the Airforce have launched rescue and relief operations in the border areas and have so far evacuated 100 injured civilians to Uri Field Hospital. Makeshift hospitals have also been set up and doctors were being flown to Uri to attend to the injured. Enditem