20 traffic accidents reported in Sittwe during Thingyan, says local charity

By Admin 16 Apr 2023

DMG Newsroom
16 April 2023, Sittwe

There were 20 traffic accidents reported in Sittwe from April 13 to 15, according to figures compiled by the Shwe Yaung Myitta Foundation, a local charity in the Arakan State capital.

Seven traffic accidents were reported on both Thursday and Friday and six traffic accidents were recorded Saturday.

U Min Htel Wah, chairman of the Shwe Yaung Metta Foundation, said that most of those injured suffered from head trauma and/or broken limbs.

“Among the accidents, some were splashed in the face while riding a motorcycle and could not control their speed. Some of them were injured after drinking and driving their motorbikes without slowing down at turns,” he explained.

Traffic accidents are common in Arakan State during Thingyan each year, and social organisations last week had emphasised the importance for drivers to operate their vehicles with special care over the holiday period.

Most traffic accidents in Arakan State during the Thingyan holiday are attributed to drunk driving.

“Traffic accidents are reported because the authorities’ actions regarding traffic rules and regulations are weak. More traffic accidents occur during Thingyan,” said U Khin Maung Gyi, a resident of Sittwe.

Four people died and more than 20 were injured in traffic accidents in Sittwe during the 2022 Thingyan, according to the Shwe Yaung Metta Foundation.

A total of 283 traffic accidents were reported in Arakan State in 2021, with 121 deaths and 283 injured. In 2022, there were 149 road accidents resulting in 84 deaths and 192 injured, according to the state traffic police.