A peaceful Buddhist festival in central Myanmar turned into a scene of horror and bloodshed on Monday evening. During the Thadingyut religious celebration in Chaung U township, where locals had also gathered for a candlelight protest against military rule, a paraglider appeared in the sky and dropped bombs onto the crowd. Within seconds, joy turned into chaos smoke, screams, and panic filled the air.
Local reports confirmed that at least 24 people were killed and over 47 others injured in the deadly blast. Witnesses described a scene of devastation. “When the first bomb exploded, I fell to the ground. It hit below my knee. People were dying all around me,” said one survivor, trembling as he recalled the moment.
According to the People’s Defence Force (PDF), which opposes Myanmar’s military regime, they had received prior intelligence about a possible air attack but were unable to act in time. The assault was executed so swiftly that no defensive response could be mounted.
Grief and outrage now blanket the region. Families of the victims are still searching for their loved ones amid debris and shattered remains. Images shared on social media showed bloodstained clothes, burnt prayer candles, and broken festival decorations scattered across the ground.
Amnesty International condemned the bombing as “brutal and inhumane,” warning that the military and its allies are increasingly using paragliders and improvised aircraft for aerial strikes a deeply alarming trend.
Since the 2021 military coup, Myanmar has been gripped by relentless violence. Frequent air raids, arson attacks, and civilian massacres have become grimly routine. The bombing of this Buddhist festival serves as yet another chilling reminder that ordinary citizens in Myanmar continue to live amid fear, fire, and tragedy.
