A train rammed into an oil truck yesterday afternoon in Myitkyina the capital of Kachin State in Northern Burma killing one and injuring over 10 people. The truck was trying to cross the railway tracks, locals told KNG.

The person who died was on the truck and the three train drivers sustained injuries with the condition of two being serious. They have been admitted to Myitkyina hospital, sources said.

Eyewitness said, the blue coloured 10 wheel Honda truck was loaded with 80 drums of diesel oil and was being transported from China through Laiza,on the Sino-Burma border controlled by the  Kachin ceasefire group, Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).

Luckily, the oil spilled along the railway tracks and there was no fire, eyewitnesses said. The truck was transporting diesel oil to the Phakant jade mining areas which accounts for the highest oil consumption in Kachin State .

A truck can carry up to 120 drums of oil. The fees for carrying from Myitkyina to Phakant is 2,400,000 Kyat (est. US $ 2,143) per truck including 1,000,000 Kyat (est. US $ 893) as bribes to the Burmese military bases along the way, sources close to oil transporters said.

As the oil price is up in the international market, the current price for a drum of diesel oil (55
gallons) is 330,000 Kyat (est. US $ 295) in Myitkyina, according to local oil dealers.

Local said, most oil dealers are Chinese businessmen and they mainly transport Chinese diesel and gas from Laiza illegally in cooperation with Burmese military officials of the Northern Command.

Every day, 10 or more oil trucks enter from Laiza and head for Myitkyina, the locals said.