NEW DELHI: Heavy fighting in war-torn Myanmar has forced nearly 4,000 people to flee into India in the last four days, according to Indian officials in the northeastern state of Mizoram.

The refugees, who crossed thick forested routes into neighboring India, are fleeing clashes between rival Chin armed groups.

Mizoram state home secretary Vanlalmawia, who uses only one name, stated that many of the people have relatives on the Indian side and are staying with them, while others are being housed in community halls.The remote hill state is already hosting more than 30,000 refugees from Myanmar, where a deadly civil war has been ongoing since the military seized power in 2021.

A senior state police officer confirmed that approximately 4,000 people have entered India over the past four days.

The fighting between the groups, both of which oppose military rule, continues for control of the region known as Chinland.

Authorities stated that the situation on the other side of the border remains tense and they have not asked the refugees to return.India has sought to deepen ties with Myanmar as a counterweight to China's growing influence but has shied away from explicitly condemning the military coup.