KYAUKPADAUNG, Myanmar — Severe fighting between the Myanmar military and local resistance forces has broken out along the highway connecting Kyaukpadaung and Nyaung-U, a strategic route near the UNESCO World Heritage site of Bagan.
The clashes, which began on March 15 and continued into Monday, have reportedly left at least 15 junta soldiers dead and forced hundreds of civilians to flee their homes.
According to local reports, a military column of approximately 120 soldiers has been pushing through villages including Lel Gyi, Kyauk Tan Gar, and Aye Ywa. Resistance sources claim that the military is currently using heavy artillery to shell Aye Ywa village.
“The situation is critical, and the Kyaukpadaung-Nyaung-U road is currently impassable for commuters,” a representative from KPG Update News told reporters on Monday afternoon. “We have confirmed 15 fatalities on the military side in Aye Ywa, but casualties among the resistance forces are still being verified.”
RiThe military operation originally began on March 1 with around 70 troops, but reinforcements were dispatched from Kyaukpadaung town on March 5, bringing the total strength to over 100.
The column has a history of brutal tactics in the region. Local activists allege that on March 6, the same unit was responsible for the killing of three elderly women who were burned to death in Byu village. Additionally, more than 200 homes were reportedly razed to the ground during that raid.
The ongoing violence has displaced more than 300 villagers from several communities, including Kabyu, Seikhtein, and Lel Gyi. Displaced residents are reportedly hiding in nearby forests or seeking refuge in the urban center of Kyaukpadaung.
“People are fleeing for their lives, some to the woods and others toward the town. The exact number of displaced persons is likely higher than currently reported,” a local source added.
The central plains of Myanmar, once considered a military stronghold, have become a volatile battleground as People’s Defence Forces (PDFs) increasingly challenge the junta’s control over vital transport links and rural areas.
