Nepal situation beyond our imagination: Modi

The situation in earthquake-hit Nepal is "beyond our imagination", Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday.

Modi said he was sad that the land where Lord Buddha was born was in serious trouble following the April 25 edarthquake that has claimed thousands of lives and left thousands of others injured.

Speaking on the occasion of Buddha Poornima at the Talkatora Stadium here, the prime minister said: "I pray to Buddha that the earthquake victims should not suffer any more."

He said the gathering was conscious of the suffering that the recent earthquake has caused in Nepal, but added that this is also an opportunity for everyone to follow Lord Buddha's message of "karuna" (compassion), and wipe the tears of those suffering in Nepal.

Led by the prime minister, participants at the venue offered a special prayer for the quake victims.

Modi said Lord Buddha's timeless message of love and compassion could help rid the world of the problems of war and violence.

The whole world had acknowledged that the 21st century would be Asia's century, he said adding that Buddha's teachings would be the inspiration and guiding spirit for Asia as it showed the world the path to relief from problems of conflict and hatred.

The prime minister recalled his visits to Buddhist temples recently in Japan and Sri Lanka and also in China when he was chief minister of Gujarat.

He said that the profound spiritual consciousness that pervaded these temples must be forged into a powerful force for good in the world.