NEW DELHI: Campaigning for India’s tight national election turned violent on Sunday when a series of blasts ahead of opposition candidate Narendra Modi’s rally in an eastern Indian city left five people dead and 83 wounded.

At least six crude bombs exploded near a public ground in Patna where tens of thousands of people had gathered to hear Modi as he took his campaign to the big heartland state of Bihar for next summer’s national election.

“There was a blast right behind me. I heard people saying that one of the tires of a vehicle has burst,” said a witness. “When I went to the spot, I saw many people lying injured on the ground.”

Television channels showed pictures of shattered windows of buses, smoke billowing and people running in panic.

It was the first outbreak of violence since Modi, the challenger from the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, began an aggressive campaign to oust the ruling Congress-led coalition.

Modi did not mention the blasts in his speech, but later called them “deeply saddening and unfortunate” on Twitter. He appealed for peace and calm.

Police inspector general Sushil M Khopde said five people were killed in the blasts. Three unexploded bombs were found at the venue of the rally. No one has claimed responsibility for the blasts. However, police say they have detained some people for questioning.