Patna: Timely detection of a hole, allegedly dug by a group of prisoners, helped avert a jailbreak from Jamui district jail on Tuesday night.

Authoritative sources said a teacher posted at the local basic school found the hole in the fence of the jail on Wednesday morning.

Suspecting foul play, he immediately alerted the senior police and administrative officials of the district who rushed to the spot.

"It seems work to create a big hole on the jail's boundary wall was going on for several days," Jamui superintendent of police Jagannath Reddy said. "We have taken a serious view of the incident and those found to be involved will not be spared."