The Tuesday afternoon earthquake left many a VIP running for safety in Patna - from buildings to open spaces, reports PTI.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar, who was at his 7 Circular Road residence, rushed out of the building into the lawn, sources in the chief minister's residence said.

Sources in Raj Bhavan said governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, who was in his chamber, came out of the building, following the temblor.

People who had assembled for a book release programme at the Raj Bhavan also ran out to the lawn. However, the book - Chhobi aur Chhap: Rashtriyata ke Alok mein Bhojpuri Kavita ka Path - written by Raj Bhavan public relations officer Sunil Kumar Pathak was released after the brief disruption.

Senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi left a news meet midway and rushed out of his Polo Road residence along with the reporters. One of the reporters present there said: "Sushil ji took a five-minute break as soon as the quake struck. The meeting resumed after the break."

A report from Darbhanga said Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Nand Kishore Yadav, who was also addressing reporters at the circuit house, ran towards a lawn after the quake.

East Champaran district magistrate-in-charge Bharat Dubey told PTI over phone that he and other officials had to ran out of the collectorate office following the quake. Dubey said details of the damage was being collected, as the district borders Nepal.

In the April 25 quake also, several buildings were damaged in the district.