YANGON: A mine explosion targeted the downbound railway track between Kyaukdaga and Thahtaygon stations on the Yangon-Mandalay railway line.
At around 7:00 AM on April 28, Downbound Freight Train No. (902), which had departed from Kyaukdaga Station, reached Milepost 107/4-5 between Kyaukdaga Station in Bago Region’s Kyaukdaga Township and Thahtaygon Station when a mine planted by insurgents exploded on the downbound track. Authorities discovered that the track was damaged, forcing the train to retreat to Kyaukdaga Station. The railway section between Kyaukdaga and Thahtaygon was temporarily closed at 7:26 AM.
Local authorities and security forces conducted clearance operations at the blast site. The explosion caused approximately two feet of the eastern rail to break off and about 15 feet of the western rail to bend. Additionally, some track ballast and concrete sleepers were damaged. Another unexploded improvised mine was found near the blast site.
Myanmar Railways staff worked to quickly restore the line. They replaced the damaged rails and repaired the track between Kyaukdaga and Thahtaygon stations, reopening the section at 2:38 PM. Train services have since resumed normal operations.
Due to the explosion, Upbound Express Train No. (11) and Upbound DEMU Express Train No. (7), which were running on the Yangon-Mandalay line this morning (April 29), were halted at Nyaunglaybin Station. After inspections and repairs were completed, the trains were allowed to depart only at 8:57 AM, causing delays of about an hour for passenger trains.
Since February 2021, insurgent groups have carried out 81 attacks on railway tracks and stations, 175 bombings of railway bridges and tracks, and 16 arson attacks on station buildings and staff housing across Myanmar’s railway network. - Eleven Media/ANN
