Although Thingyan security in Yangon and several other cities was ramped up this year, it still wasn’t enough to keep the number of crimes down across the country. According to official reports, this year’s festivities saw an additional 233 criminal cases and 13 deaths in comparison to last year.
As quoted by the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar, a nationwide total of 1200 offenses, 1073 injuries, and 285 deaths took place during this year’s Thingyan. To compare, last year’s Thingyan records show 967 offenses, 1086 injuries, and 272 deaths.
Not surprisingly, the largest number of incidents took place in the Yangon Region where 223 cases left 111 injured and 44 dead. The second most casualty-ridden area was Sagaing Region where 167 cases resulted in 194 injuries and 26 deaths. In comparison with the rest of the country, Chin State held the safest (or perhaps just the quietest?) Thingyan celebrations, encountering only three incidents in which one person died and another was injured.
Past figures from the Yangon Regional Police Force state that there were 107 recorded offenses during last year’s Thingyan, including 16 vehicular accidents and 45 pickpocket incidents. A total of 159 offenses including four deaths and 91 injuries were recorded during 2014’s Thingyan, and 174 offenses including 16 deaths and 356 injuries in 2015.
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