'Cowardly attack on Mahabodhi temple is a matter of great sadness': Modi

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has condemned the serial blasts in Mahabodhi temple in Bihar's Bodhgaya district, and described it to be a cowardly act.

"Cowardly attack on Mahabodhi temple is a matter of great sadness for the people of India and the Buddhist community around the world," he tweeted.

Minister of State for Home R.P.N. Singh on his part said the serial blasts in Bodhgaya's Mahabodhi temple is a terror attack

"It is clearly indicating that it is a militant attack. The Home Ministry has rushed the teams of NIA and the NSG to the explosion site. Very soon, the DGP of Bihar will reach the site," said Singh.

" The Chief Minister is also taking stock of the situation. And in the morning, the Home Minister spoke to the Chief Minister to know about the latest developments and NIA and NSG will fully probe the incident," he added.

Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami earlier in the day said a total of eight blasts had rocked the temple and the areas surrounding it.

"The DGP (Director General of Police) reported that four blasts had taken place inside the temple complex, three blasts had taken place inside the monastery complex and one blast had taken place adjacent to a statue of Lord Buddha," said Goswami.

"The temple complex structure has not suffered any damage, the monastery and the statue of Lord Buddha are also safe. Two persons were injured in this incident and they have been taken to hospital," he added.

The Home Secretary further said teams from the National Security Guard (NSG) and National Investigation Agency (NIA) comprising explosive experts have been sent to Bihar to help the police in collection of evidence and assist in post-blasts investigation.

"A team of the NSG to carry out a post-blast analysis, and a team of the NIA to investigate into the matter have been sent from here. Once all of them reach there and carry out their analysis, they will report back and we will then be in a position to tell you something more," he said.

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 rushed to the Magadh hospital for treatment.