Srinagar, Feb 13 (IANS): A strong earthquake rocked Jammu and Kashmir overnight as people ran out of their homes to escape being trapped with reports of several structures developing cracks due to the temblor.

Authorities have so far not reported any casualty due to the strong earthquake that shook the Valley causing fear and panic.

There are reports of widespread panic caused by the earthquake with locals at many places in the Valley spending a sleepless night fearing after shocks.

Officials of the disaster management authority said, "A strong earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale occurred in J&K at 10.34 p.m. on Friday.

"The epicentre of the earthquake was in Tajikistan with its latitude 31.57 degrees north and longitude 75.09 degrees east. It occurred 10 Kilometres inside the earth's crust.

Earthquakes measuring 6 to 6.9 on the Richter scale are seismologically classified as of 'strong' magnitude.

Kashmir has a history of devastations caused by earthquakes because the Valley is situated in a highly earthquake prone region.

Over 80,000 people were killed on two sides of the line of control (LoC) in Kashmir Aby an earthquake that occurred on October 8, 2005 with a magnitude of 7.3 on the Richter scale.