Siliguri (West Bengal), June 28 (IANS): A moderate intensity earthquake hit Assam and the northern part of West Bengal on Sunday, triggering panic among people, authorities said.

The quake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale was felt in Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts and people rushed out of their homes in panic, the India Meteorological Department said.

No loss of life or damage to property has been reported so far.

The temblor occurred at 6.35 a.m with epicentre about 20 km north of Basugaon in Assam.

Meanwhile, the road link between West Bengal's Siliguri and Sikkim capital Gangtok remained cut off due to continuous mudslides following overnight incessant rainfall.

The National Highway - 31(A) considered to be Sikkim's lifeline was restored on Saturday for a brief period following efforts of the General Reserve Engineering Force (GREF) personnel.

However, a fresh landslide at Shetijhora in Darjeeling district has again snapped the link, police said, adding the GREF personnel were working on war footing to restore the link.