NEW DELHI - After the powerful earthquake shook the northeast Indian state of Sikkim on Sunday, prisoners in a jail in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal which is close to Sikkim, tried to escape as some of the doors and windows collapsed under the impact of the tremor, reported the Press Trust of India on Monday.

The report quoted prison authorities as saying nearly 1,100 prisoners came out of their cells in the Jalpaiguri Central Correctional Home after the windows and doors of some prison cells collapsed.

However, the jail wardens and guards immediately took control of the situation, while extra police forces were immediately posted outside the jail to prevent any escape of prisoners and the jail authorities have also switched on the flood lights, said the report.