A pressure cooker exploded while rice was cooking for observers of Buddhist precepts on Thursday morning at Yadana Man Aung monastery in Maei town in Taungup Township, the explosion killed a novice and two women and injured three others.

The novice and a woman in her 60s, were cooking rice and died on the spot while another woman was pronounced DOA at Ann hospital, said U Kyaw Pu, administrator of Maei town.

The pressure cooker was overheating when it exploded. The blast killed Daw Ma Chay, 61, Daw Ma Sein Oo, 68, and Novice Wara Nanda, 14.

The injured received wounds and burns to their legs, face and head and are being treated at Maei hospital.