Northern India tourist area hit by quake

NEW DELHI, April 9 (UPI) -- A tourist district in northern India was hit by a 5.3-magnitude earthquake Thursday, injuring three people and damaging a number of buildings, officials said.

Police superintendent Vishnu Kant said Jaisalmer residents fled their homes in panic when the quake struck during the morning, CNN reported. One woman and two men were injured.

"A large number of buildings also developed cracks," he said.

The India Meteorological Department in New Delhi classified the quake that rocked the city in Rajasthan state as moderate.