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MANDALAY DIVISION – Locals reported that Mandalay Passport Office has switched to issuing tokens for queues after two people were killed due to overcrowding.
Two women passed away after being crushed by crowds at the Passport Office on February 19 when people crowded to apply for passports as there was no queueing system. After that, the office has started issuing tokens for queues on February 20, reported the people who went to queue at the office.
“We didn’t need to rush today (February 20). We just had to sit and wait patiently. Everyone who came to queue today were issued tokens for respective dates,” said a person who queued at the office.
However, they added that every one applying for passport were told to register for guest list in the future.
“They checked guest lists. They said that they will arrest those who spend the night at the monastery the next night. If you were planning to go queue early in the morning, don’t go too early. It is said that the details of those who spent the night were collected,” said a person who went to apply for passport.
Although the office has switched to token system, locals said that crowds are still expected at the office as there are many people wishing to leave the country.
Since the military coup, young people have been queuing in thousands at the passport offices to escape from the hardships in the country and find employment overseas.
The junta council enforcing the conscription law on top of that caused the young people to rush even more to get a passport. Some brokers revealed that there are thousands queuing at the passport offices daily to get passports.