Three Individuals Lost Their Lives When A Vehicle Crashed Into A Gold Mine Located In The Tanai Region

Pajau Media

8th January, 2025

On January 5, at approximately 10 PM, a Toyota Vigo vehicle drove into the Ja Ngai gold block in Hugaung Township, Tanai, resulting in the deaths of three individuals.

Five individuals were traveling in a Toyota Vigo when, on their way back from the Wai Law gold mine area to the San Lun gold mine area, they mistakenly took an incorrect route and entered the Hla Min Htet gold mining pit within the Ja Ngai gold block, an area that was still undergoing mining operations.

Among the individuals in the vehicle, 18-year-old Ja Seng Mai, 40-year-old U Marip Naw Lawn, and 36-year-old U Hpauje Lawt Aung lost their lives, whereas only Daw Ting Ba Ja Seng Bu and Daw Kumna Bawk Htoi managed to survive, as reported by a resident of Tanai.

Due to the prevalence of gold mining in the area, visibility of the roads is significantly compromised. The conditions of the roads vary between morning and evening, with numerous detours arising from daily excavation activities. The situation deteriorates further at night, as darkness and fog render the roads nearly invisible, according to a resident of Tanai.

In the Tanai township of the Hugawng region, the Lapukha Gold Mine, Wai Law Gold Mine, and San Lun Gold Mine are well-known for their gold production. Furthermore, it is imperative for pedestrians to exercise heightened caution while traversing these mining areas. Local inhabitants report that the recent incident transpired because mining activities continued despite the dense winter fog, noting that such an occurrence had not been recorded previously.