MEA advises Indians not to travel to Myanmar as security situation deteriorates

New Delhi : India on Tuesday advised its citizens to refrain from traveling to Myanmar's Rakhine state as security situation has deteriorated in the place.

Releasing its first advisory, Ministry of External Affairs has asked Indian residents to not travel to Rakhine state due to prevailing situation that has led to disrupted telecommunication networks and scarcity of essential commodities.

"In view of the deteriorating security situation, disruption of means of telecommunications, including landlines, and severe scarcity of essential commodities, all Indian citizens are advised not to travel to the Rakhine State of Myanmar," it said.

"Those Indian citizens who are already in the Rakhine State are advised to leave the State immediately," the MEA said.

Myanmar has been dealing with widespread violent protests demanding restoration of democracy since the military seized power in a coup on February 1, 2021.

The Rakhine State and other regions in the nation has registered fight between armed ethnic groups and military personnel since October last year.

Clashes between Myanmar's military and its opponents have intensified significantly since November in key towns and regions near the Indian border, raising concerns in New Delhi about the potential security implications for the Indian states of Manipur and Mizoram.