A vehicle carrying a backhoe which will be used for the construction of a temporary bailey bridge in the place on Myawady-Kawkareik Asia Highway where a landslide occurred due to heavy rain, and a passenger bus were attacked yesterday morning by an unknown armed group, injuring four passengers, according to Thingannyinaung Rescue Team.

The temporary bailey bridge is being constructed on Myawady-Kawkareik Asia Highway. Moreover, road officials have built a detour road.

“A vehicle carrying the backhoe was attacked with RPG on the morning of August 20. Meanwhile, a passenger bus which overtook the vehicle also was attacked with RPG. Four passengers were wounded and they were sent to the hospital,” said an official from Thingannyinaung Rescue Team.

The heavy rain caused a landslide of about 100 square feet near Tawnaw waterfall on Myawady-Kawkareik Asia Highway in the Dawna mountain range on August 7, stopping traffic flow. It is a major road used for bilateral trade between Myanmar and Thailand. 

Now, the temporary bailey bridge is replaced in the landslide-hit area. The main bridge will be 200-ft long and 300-ft long approached road will be included. 

As landslide occurred on  the Myawady-Kawkareik Asia Highway in the Dawna mountain range, border trading stopped and the passenger buses and small vehicles are now using the Myawady-Kawkareik Dawna Mountain old road. However, the buses and small vehicles paid the high fee for the tollgates. 

Likewise, the unknown armed group attacked the construction site of Asia Highway with the RPG on the morning of August 11.

The new Myawady-Kawkareik Asia Highway built by a Thai company was inaugurated on November 30, 2016.

The highway is crucial for the West-East Economic Corridor involving Thailand, Myanmar and India in Greater Mekong Region.