The commencement of international tourist
period has been welcomed in India with a blast in historic Bodh Gaya
temple.Two people have been injured in a series of eight blasts inside
the Mahabodhi temple in Bihar's Bodhgaya district. While four of the
blasts took place inside the Mahabodhi temple, the other four exploded
outside. Another two live bombs were reportedly found near the temple,
and defused.
Teams from the National Investigation Agency and the National
Security Guard are on their way to Bodhgaya. The Buddhist shrines in
Bodhgaya, a town 130 kilometers south of Patna, attract a large number
of pilgrims, especially from Japan, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. The
main pilgrimage starts in September.
"The holy bodhi tree is safe and there is no damage to it," Bihar police chief Abhayanand said adding that there were not too many people inside the temple when the blasts took place. The two injured, reportedly a Buddhist monk from Myanmar and a pilgrim, have been rushed to a hospital.
The Home ministry has put eight cities Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bangalore and Pune on full alert in view of Bodh Gaya expositions. In Hyderabad following the alert, security has been tightened in religious places, tourist spots and commercial areas.
"The holy bodhi tree is safe and there is no damage to it," Bihar police chief Abhayanand said adding that there were not too many people inside the temple when the blasts took place. The two injured, reportedly a Buddhist monk from Myanmar and a pilgrim, have been rushed to a hospital.
The Home ministry has put eight cities Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bangalore and Pune on full alert in view of Bodh Gaya expositions. In Hyderabad following the alert, security has been tightened in religious places, tourist spots and commercial areas.