Patna, Aug 1 (IANS) Some dried branches of the Bodhi tree, under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment, were chopped Wednesday after a dried branch fell into the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, officials said.

The chopping took place in the presence local Bihar officials on the instructions of the Dehradun-based Forest Research Institute (FRI), Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee's Jaglal Mishra said.

A 35-inch-long dried branch of the tree fell on Sunday.

Last month, FRI scientists said the Bodh tree was fully healthy. The temple sought the FRI's help in 2007 after the holy tree was hit by a disease.

It was in Bodh Gaya, about 100 km from here, that Lord Buddha attained enlightenment more than 2,500 years ago. The 1,500-year-old temple stands behind the sacred tree.