There were two explosions in Mandalay on the morning of 9 October, the full moon day of this year’s Thadingyut festival.

The first explosion took place on the Daguntai railway bridge, in Pyigyidagun Township at about 7:00 am and the second explosion was in the middle of the road on 62nd Street, between 27th and 28th Street at around 9:00 a.m.

There were no casualties caused by the Daguntai railway bridge explosion, according to a local who said investigations to find out who was responsible were still underway.

Regarding the second explosion, a resident of Chanayethazan Township said: “An old woman crossing the road was slightly injured and a light-truck car was also damaged.”

Currently, many junta troops are carrying out inspections across Mandalay and behaving aggressively towards civilians. According to reports from local residents, junta personnel in civilian clothes have been stopping people and carrying out inspections at the foot of Mandalay Hill and on Mandalay Moat, both areas where people go to celebrate Thadingyut.

Thadingyut is a three-day festival held on the day before, the day of and the day after the full moon in the Thadingyut, the seventh month of the Myanmar calendar. It is a celebration to welcome the Buddha’s descent from heaven.