Chandresh Kumari Katoch condemns terror attack in Bodh Gaya

Union Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch has strongly condemned the attack at Bodh Gaya temple complex, and has conveyed her best wishes for speedy recovery of the injured persons.

She has stated that even though Bodhgaya Tempe is not a centrally protected monument, it is a World Heritage Site. She has directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to quickly assess whether there has been any damage to the site and to take remedial steps as required.

Pravin Srivastava, Director General, Archaeological Survey of India, has informed that a team of officials from Patna office of ASI has been asked to visit the Bodh Gaya Temple at the earliest and to make quick survey of any damage that may have occurred because of the bomb blasts and also make a quick assessment of the remedial steps that may be required to be taken to restore any damage to the holy temple and the environs.

Eight serial explosions rocked the internationally renowned temple town of Bodhgaya, including four in the Mahabodhi temple complex, injuring two monks in the blasts suspected to be engineered by some terrorist organisation.

While four blasts took place inside the Mahabodhi temple complex, three occurred in Karmapa monastery, one each near the 80-ft Buddha statue and at the bus stand near bypass. The blasts took place between 5:30 to 5:58 a.m.

The injured have been admitted to the Magadh Hospital for treatment.

Teams from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and National Security Guards (NSG) are presently at the blasts site.

An alert has been issued in the entire state with additional security forces being deployed at all religious places.