New Delhi - Maoist militants seized a passenger train in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand and took hundreds of passengers hostage Wednesday, one day before the second phase of India's month-long general elections.

The approximately 700 passengers on board the train were unhurt, the NDTV news channel reported, citing railway authorities.

Maoist fighters took over the train early Wednesday in Latehar district, they said.

Already on Tuesday evening Maoists conducted several attacks in Jharkhand and the neighbouring state of Bihar. During one attack, the rebels blew up a train station, just before an express train was due to pass the station.