Electricity cut off in Pauktaw following hostilities

By Admin 17 Nov 2023

DMG Newsroom
17 November 2023, Pauktaw

Myanmar’s military regime has cut off electricity in Arakan State’s Pauktaw where fighting is escalating between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA).

The regime bombarded Pauktaw town after the AA seized the central police station in the town on Thursday morning, forcing staff at the electricity office to flee out of fear. A subpower station in Minbya supplying electricity to Pauktaw then cut off power supply.

“Staff can’t continue to work in Pauktaw because of the security situation. So, electricity was cut off. I heard power supply would be restored only after stability is restored in the town,” said a source close to electricity staff.

Residents are concerned that they would lose contact with the outside world because of the power cut.

“The worst part of the power cut is we can’t now charge our mobile phones though we can still manage to cook,” said a Pauktaw resident.

The November 17 issue of junta papers said the regime had regained control of Pauktaw. The AA in a statement issued Thursday accused the regime of killing civilians in Pauktaw town, vowing to retaliate.

DMG has learnt that at least 20 civilians were killed or injured by junta shelling and shooting in Pauktaw town on Thursday. Thousands of Pauktaw residents also fled their homes as junta helicopters strafed and warships bombarded the town following the AA’s seizure of the main police station.