File picture of Narendra Modi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tonight condemned the bomb blast that took place outside a Hindu temple in Thai capital Bangkok, killing at least 12 people.
"I strongly condemn the blast in Bangkok. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased. I pray for a speedy recovery of the injured," he tweeted.A powerful bomb exploded around 7 pm local time outside Erawan Shrine in the downtown Chidlom district of Bangkok, police said.
The temple, which is dedicated to Lord Brahma, is located on a main road through Bangkok's commercial hub and is surrounded by three major shopping malls.
At least 12 people were killed in the explosion, according to reports but the number may rise. Nearly 80 people were injured in the blast. There was a huge amount of chaos, with body parts scattered everywhere, media reports said.
The Erawan shrine, on a busy corner near top hotels, shopping centres, offices and a hospital, is a major tourist attraction, especially for visitors from East Asia. Many Thais also worship there.
While initial suspicion might fall on Muslim separatists in the south, Thailand has been riven for a decade by an intense and sometimes violent struggle for power between political factions in Bangkok.