The temple’s sanctum sanctorum and the Bodhi Tree, under which Lord Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment, did not suffer any damage in the blasts that shook the holy town frequented by lakhs of Buddhist pilgrims from countries such as Sri Lanka, China and Japan.

Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami said in New Delhi that serial explosions were a terror attack and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the National Security Guards (NSG) teams had been sent for post-blasts investigations.

A five-member NIA team comprising a DIG and two SPs reached here by a special plane from New Delhi and began probe into the incident, said Nayyar Hasnain Khan, DIG, Gaya range.

The explosions took place between 5.30 and 5.58 AM. The explosives were set off by timers. No group has claimed responsibility for the blasts so far. “While four blasts took place inside the Mahabodhi Temple complex, three occurred in Karmapa monastery, one each near the famous 80-ft Buddha statue and at the bus stand near bypass,” Khan said.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who rushed to the blast site from Patna, has demanded CISF security for the shrine. — PTI