KATHMANDU: At least 24 people were killed and 47 others injured when Myanmar’s military dropped two bombs on a crowd protesting against the junta.

The attack occurred on Monday evening in Chaung U township, central Myanmar, where around 100 people had gathered to mark a national holiday.

Since the army seized power in 2021, thousands have died and millions have been displaced, triggering a civil war involving armed resistance groups and ethnic militias.

After losing control of more than half the country, the military has begun making significant gains again, using a particularly brutal campaign of airstrikes and heavy bombardment.

Chaung U is located in the Sagaing region, a key battleground in the conflict.

Large portions of the area are under the control of volunteer militias, known as the People’s Defence Force (PDF), which were formed after the coup to resist the military government. These groups also manage local administration.

A local PDF official said that they had received prior intelligence about a possible airborne attack during the gathering.

They attempted to disperse the crowd quickly, but the paragliders reached the site sooner than expected.

The official said the attack unfolded in just seven minutes.

He sustained a leg injury, while several people nearby were killed.

Locals reported that the aftermath made it difficult to identify the bodies.

“Children were completely torn apart,” a woman involved in organizing the event told AFP.

She did not witness the attack but attended funerals on Tuesday, adding that body parts were still being collected.

In a statement on Tuesday, Amnesty International condemned the junta’s use of motorized paragliders against communities, calling it part of a “disturbing trend.”

The junta is increasingly relying on paramotors due to a shortage of aircraft and helicopters.

International sanctions in recent years have made it harder for Myanmar’s military to acquire conventional equipment.

However, advanced drones and military technology supplied by China and Russia have given the junta a new advantage on the battlefield, analysts say.