A drone sparked panic and raised security concerns after it flew into a historic temple complex in India.

The unmanned aerial vehicle allegedly entered the premises of the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) office in Bihar, just metres from the world-renowned Mahabodhi Temple, on Wednesday, August 27.

A Buddhist monk and Mahabodhi Temple priest later arrived at the scene and confirmed that the aircraft belonged to him and had been flown within the temple grounds.

However, local regulations strictly prohibit drone activity in the vicinity of the Mahabodhi Temple and the BTMC office due to security concerns.

Bodh Gaya Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Saurav Jaiswal dismissed the possibility of a major security breach.

Jaiswal said: 'As no outsider was involved, there is no cause for any big concern. The priest appears to have done it inadvertently.'

No damage was reported from the incident.

The Mahabodhi Temple, located in Bodh Gaya, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major pilgrimage destination for Buddhists. Thousands of devotees and tourists from both India and abroad visit the temple daily.

In 2013, the temple was the target of a terrorist bombing. Since then, security measures in and around the site have been significantly increased.