A strong 7.2 earthquake hit Tajikistan on Monday, the US Geological Survey reported. Mild tremors were felt in northern Pakistan and as far as New Delhi.

There were no immediate reports of destruction or casualties.

A spokesman for Tajikistan's Emergencies Committee said it had no information so far on any casualties or damage from the quake. The quake did not affect Russian military bases in Tajikistan, RIA news agency reported, citing Russia's defence ministry.

A Dushanbe resident told Reuters by telephone the quake had been felt in the capital, but described it as moderate.

The US Geological Survey reported that a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck a sparsely populated mountainous area 109 kilometres west of Murghab and 111 km southwest of Karakul, Tajikistan at a depth of 28.7 km.

Screengrab from USGS website showing the epicentre of the earthquake.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) website reported the magnitude of earthquake at 7.1 with a focal depth of 88km in Tajikistan.

The latest earthquake comes nearly a month after a 7.2 earthquake jolted major cities of Pakistan, including the northern areas on Monday, leaving nearly 300 dead and around 3,000 injured due to building collapses, landslides, stampedes and other quake related incidents.

Read guide: What you should do when an earthquake strikes

Pakistan is located in the Indus-Tsangpo Suture Zone, which is roughly 200 km north of the Himalaya Front and is defined by an exposed ophiolite chain along its southern margin. This region has the highest rates of seismicity and largest earthquakes in the Himalaya region, caused mainly by movement on thrust faults.

Active faults and resultant earthquakes in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan are the result of convergence between the S. Asian and Eurasia plates.