<span style="color: #222222;">The death toll in the devastating earthquake that rattled Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and several north-eastern cities in the country rose to 37 today as authorities stepped up rescue operations to save people trapped in the debris of several toppled buildings.<br />'' <br />'' According to the US Geological Survey, the epicentre of the powerful 5.8 magnitude earthquake, which occurred last afternoon was near Mirpur city roughly 20 kilometres north of Jhelum in Punjab.<br />'' <br />''The number of casualties was likely to increase as around 100 of the injured were admitted to different hospitals in a critical condition. </span>