Two women die of suffocation in Mandalay Passport Office queue

Two women die of suffocation in Mandalay Passport Office queue
Published 19 February 2024

In a heartbreaking incident, two women lost their lives due to suffocation while waiting in line at the Mandalay Passport office. According to sources, the unfortunate event occurred around 2 am on February 19.

The cause of their deaths was attributed to the overwhelming crowd gathered in front of the passport office, located on 12th Street between 65th and 66th Streets in Aungmyaethazan Township, Mandalay Region.

The Nandawshae Rescue Team, under the guidance of the Myanmar Social Welfare and Rescue Team, swiftly responded to the emergency. Three injured women, struggling to breathe and unconscious, were urgently transported to the Mandalay General Hospital. Among them, two women tragically succumbed to suffocation.

U Thein Tun Aung, chairman of the Nandawshae Social Rescue Team, recounted the chaotic scene: “There were about five people suffering from dizziness. Some individuals even fell into a drain while queuing. Three of them were rushed to the hospital due to suffocation—one in a car and the other directly to the hospital. Another victim suffered broken teeth. As far as I know, around 2 am on February 19, the crowd numbered approximately a thousand. The tragedy unfolded amidst the chaos of jostling.”