The Mansaung Bridge, which spans the Manipur River and forms part of the highway linking Tedim Township in Chin State with the border town of Rihkhawdar near India, was damaged in an explosion carried out by an unidentified armed group. The bridge is a vital trade route between Myanmar and India.

As a result of the attack, large cargo trucks can no longer cross the bridge, disrupting the transport of goods and contributing to rising commodity prices in the area, according to locals.

Residents said that since the bridge was damaged, goods must be unloaded and manually transported between the two ends of the bridge by hired laborers, increasing transportation costs and driving up prices.

“Before the river level rose, people could carry goods across the river itself. But now that the rainy season has set in and the water is high, we have to hire laborers to move the cargo, which has pushed up costs and commodity prices. At least the laborers are getting jobs out of it. The bridge is still usable, but large trucks can’t cross it anymore. Other vehicles can still use it, and it remains reliable for regular traffic,” a resident from Tedim said.

The explosion occurred on June 7, when an unidentified armed group destroyed a mid-river support pillar located near the Indian side of the Mansaung Bridge. Since then, large cargo trucks have been unable to use the structure.

The suspension bridge had previously been severely damaged on June 8, 2024, when junta troops blew it up. In the aftermath, locals mobilized their own labor and financial resources to repair the structure. The latest attack marks the second time the bridge has been deliberately sabotaged, despite the community's efforts to restore the key trade link.