Hundreds of vehicles stuck at security checkpoint near Sittaung Bridge in Bago Region

By DMG 28 Nov 2022

DMG Newsroom
28 November 2022, Waw, Bago Region

Hundreds of vehicles have been bottlenecked at the Nyaung Khar Shay security checkpoint near the Sittaung Bridge in Waw Township, Bago Region, since November 27, according to locals.

A resident of Waw town said the Nyaung Khar Shay security checkpoint, which is the main road linking Bago Region to Mon State, has been closed since noon on Sunday.

“Vehicles and travellers have not been allowed to pass the security checkpoint. The security checkpoint was closed because the X-ray machine broke down,” the Waw resident added.

“We are not allowed to leave the [Sittaung] Bridge. Hundreds of cargo trucks and passenger buses are stranded at the security checkpoint,” a truck driver plying the route between Yangon and Myawaddy told DMG at about 10 a.m. on Monday.

“We are in trouble as passenger buses are not allowed to pass the security checkpoint. Junta soldiers check passengers’ ID cards with photos,” said a passenger bus driver plying a route between Yangon and Mawlamyine.

The closure of the Nyaung Khar Shay security checkpoint is due to a malfunction of the X-ray machine installed on the bridge for security reasons, with passage across the bridge only expected to resume after the device is operational once again, according to officials with knowledge of the situation. The X-ray machine was installed at the bridge in October.