Saturday, October 8 2005 12:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chandigarh: The deliberations at the Congress Chief Ministers Conclave being attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Party President Sonia Gandhi were disrupted briefly today (Oct 8, 2005) when an earthquake shook Chandigarh and other parts of the country this morning.

The strong tremors erupted at about 9.22 am, minutes after the Prime Minister concluded his half an hour address to the meet.

The Prime Minister, Gandhi, 15 Chief Ministers, several Union Ministers and senior party leader were advised to move out of the venue to the lawns in the Punjab Bhawan, Congress sources said adding that the deliberations, which continued the second day today, resumed when the tremors stopped after about three minutes.

Home Minister Shivraj Patil immediately contacted officials of his ministry to ascertain the details.

In the adjoining Haryana Niwas, where the Media Center has been set up, a large number of journalists of the print and electronic media and officials rushed out .

Fans and chandeliers shook violently prompting the media persons and officials rushed down the stairs into the open space.