Patna, May 16 (IANS): A mild earthquake was felt in major parts of Bihar on Saturday evening, causing widespread panic among the people, who rushed out of their houses, shops and offices, officials said.

Patna meteorological department official R.K. Giri said that an earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale jolted large parts of Bihar. The epicentre was in Nepal, he said.

"People in Patna felt mild tremors," he said.

According to officials of the state disaster management department, people in Patna, Darbhanga, Gaya, Purnea, Kishanganj, Madhubani, Jehanabad and Aurangabad, Raxaul, Motihari felt the tremors.

No casualty or damages to houses has been reported from across the state.

The quake made thousands of people across the state rush of their houses when they felt tremors.

In Patna, hundreds of people rushed out of their houses and gathered in open space.

Last Tuesday a massive earthquake rocked major parts of Bihar in which 19 people were killed. The epicentre of that earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter was in Kodari, Nepal.