August 18, 2024

Lashio, currently under the control of the MNDAA, is returning to normal operations, with hospitals and markets functioning as usual. The Muse-Lashio road has also been reopened, according to local sources.

Ticket prices for the Lashio-Muse route, which were previously 35,000 kyats before the conflict, have now surged to between 150,000 and 200,000 kyats. Due to the current road conditions, only smaller vehicles are able to make the journey smoothly.

Fuel prices in Lashio have also risen significantly, with the price per liter increasing from 2,000 kyats to 7,000 kyats. Travelers now have to take alternative routes, such as through Namkham and Namhpakka, as the 105-mile stretch through Muse remains impassable. Additionally, the MNDAA has reopened the Laukkai-Kyauk Lone-Theinni-Lashio route.

“People are gradually returning to Lashio. While phone lines are still down, vehicle operators are instructed to report to the Kokang administration. Upon entering the city, drivers are required to slow down and answer questions from Kokang troops. Although there are other military forces in the city, checkpoints are primarily managed by Kokang forces, which include Burmese,” a driver told New Day Myanmar.

Within Lashio, administrative duties are being handled by the MNDAA’s Kokang forces. Efforts are being made to restore the city’s operations, with hospitals, markets, and shops gradually reopening. Although internet access has been restored in some areas, phone lines remain unavailable. There have been reports of burglaries in areas away from resistance forces, despite announcements that such activities would be punished.

This return to normalcy in Lashio represents a significant step towards stability in the region, although challenges such as high transportation costs and security concerns remain.