A Buddhist monk jumped off the Thanlwin Bridge (Mawlamyine) in Mon State at about 11 am today, according to local sources.  

The monk under the name of U Kosala (layperson’s name is U Kan Fan) left Shwe Yin Aye Monastery in Mottama, Paung Township, together with another monk at about 10.55 am to go to the eye, ear and nose hospital in Mawlamyine. When the three-wheeled vehicle carrying them arrived between the bridge post numbers PR-11 and PR-13, U Kosala asked the driver to stop and went to have a pee.

He then jumped over the railing of the bridge on the right side and jumped into the river from the bridge.

“Currently, emergency aid organizations are conducting search and rescue work,” said a member of a social aid organization in Mawlamyine.

A rescue team from Myanmar Fire Services Department in cooperation with local social aid organizations is searching the missing monk, the local sources said.