Mizzima News

In a rare instant, a small bomb today exploded at the Pyinmana railway station near the tightly guarded Burma's new jungle capital Nay Pi Taw killing a woman, a railway official said.

The bomb exploded at about 4:30 a.m. (local time) in the toilet of the Pyinmana railway station, instantly killing a woman, who was believed to be using the toilet, said the railway officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he is not authorized to speak to the press.

"The blast killed one woman on the spot and destroyed the toilet. There were no other casualties or damages," the officer said.

Security has been tightened at the station but train schedules have not been altered or disrupted, the officer added.

A nurse at the Pyinmana hospital, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the body of the woman victim has been brought to the hospital and will be sent for post-mortem.

"Only one woman has been brought to the hospital and she has been brought dead. The body will be sent for post-mortem," the nurse told Mizzima.

While the culprit behind the bomb blast could not be identified yet, an officer at the Nay Pyi Taw police station said, they are investigating.

"As of now we cannot give any clue as to who is behind the blast. We are still investigating the case," said the police officer, of the rank of a sergeant.

Though the dead woman could not be identified, sources in Rangoon said, she belongs to a Karen ethnic group.

Though such small bomb explosions are not uncommon in Burma, the blast is the first in Nay Pyi Taw, which the ruling junta made its new capital in November 2005.

The ruling junta, which has been quick at pointing to its political opposition and dissidents for any such blasts in the past, has so far said nothing.