Mizzima News

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) - Eight people, including prominent Buddhist abbots Ashin Sandar Dihka and Ashin Yawainwe, have been injured in a lift accident at the Bodhi Tathaung Monastery in Upper Burma.

A lift in the Bodhi Tathaung Monastery in the town of Monywa in Sagaing Division broke and fell from a height of 20 feet, injuring Ashin Sandar Dihka – abbot of Shweparmitawra, Ashin Yawainwe, a monk from Bodhi Tathaung Monastery and five civilians – all of whom were on the lift at the time of the accident.

The injured were reportedly taken to Mandalay Hospital where they are receiving treatment.

“The lift is mainly used for work purposes, carrying goods. We seldom use the lift. It happened because the lift was being used with a motor. They went in the lift to climb up to the top of the pagoda,” a monk from Bodhi Tathaung Monastery told Mizzima.

The lift, currently used at the Pagoda, was a temporary lift used for lifting construction materials and is run by motors.

Bodhi Tathaung standing pagoda began construction in 1995 and after 13 years of construction the opening ceremony was held on February 19, 2008.

The pagoda is located at about 12 miles east of Monywa town in Sagaing division and has the height of 424 feet with 32 storeys.