Thailand witnessed heavy traffic congestion yesterday after Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road was closed to hold a merit-making ceremony for the 23 victims of a tragic bus fire. This decision sparked criticism due to its impact on the already busy road.

 

The tragedy occurred on October 1, when a bus carrying students and teachers from Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam School caught fire during a field trip, resulting in one of this year's deadliest road accidents.

 

Yesterday, November 25, the ceremony took place at the site of the tragedy, attended by families, Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, and other officials. The atmosphere was somber as grieving parents struggled with their loss.

 

 

The road closure lasted from midnight until noon, as the Pathum Thani Provincial Administrative Office had informed the public on November 22. Despite the notice, drivers faced significant disruptions, with some not receiving the information or unable to find alternative routes.

 

Critics argued that the timing and location were inappropriate, suggesting that a less busy venue or a weekend event would have minimized commuter disruption on a typically busy Monday morning.

 

In response to the backlash, ceremony organizers explained their choice. Residents expressed unease following the fire and insisted the event be held there to bring good fortune back to the road. Traditional beliefs also suggested that the souls of the deceased would only find peace if the ceremony happened where the tragedy occurred.

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-11-26

 

 

9 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Critics argued that the timing and location were inappropriate

 

Hey unnamed critics, please show some respect.

1 hour ago, Homburg said:

 

Hey unnamed critics, please show some respect.

The accident, tragic as it was is a daily occurrence on Thai roads.

The masses quickly get over it and move on with their lives, the exception being the immediate families of the victims.

Thais will not tolerate any hindrance to their daily work/schedules, no matter the reason.

Sad but true.

 

Not a good idea to locate a memorial service on one of Thailand's busiest roads. 

Is this saying it's the road's fault.

Logic would say, ban/close the bus company,  after fining it heavily. 

4 hours ago, Homburg said:

 

Hey unnamed critics, please show some respect.

Hey organizers, show some common sense.

In the West, people tie bunches of flowers to lampposts on the footpaths at the scene of fatalities.

 

Couldn’t  the ceremony have been held on the footpath without disrupting everyone else? Or shut the road for a few minutes to honour the dead, not twelve hours.

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Residents expressed unease following the fire and insisted the event be held there to bring good fortune back to the road.

Thais really need to get beyond this kind of thinking. It was the worst kind of avoidable accident with tragic loss, but causing numerous people to be stressed and inconvenienced in such a manner is not the way to go about things.

5 hours ago, Homburg said:

 

Hey unnamed critics, please show some respect.

For sure, but how would you feel if you missed an important hospital appointment, meeting, flight etc? 

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

This decision sparked criticism due to its impact on the already busy road.

 

Personally, I would have brought Bangkok to a complete standstill in memory and respect for those unfortunate young school kids and their teachers.

Up yours the critics! (from a country bumpkin)

On 11/27/2024 at 4:30 AM, Homburg said:

 

Hey unnamed critics, please show some respect.

Hey, event organisers, please show some respect and consideration.

On 11/27/2024 at 2:35 PM, Burma Bill said:

 

Personally, I would have brought Bangkok to a complete standstill in memory and respect for those unfortunate young school kids and their teachers.

Up yours the critics! (from a country bumpkin)

Critics, (possibly concerned netizens) should wind their necks in and show some more respect.

 

Whilst I agree with your response, quote "Up yours the critics! (from a country bumpkin)" I think that your comment is mild compared to the one I would like to have made which may well have given me a long holiday from the forum.

 

(from another country bumpkin)

On 11/26/2024 at 9:30 PM, Homburg said:

 

Hey unnamed critics, please show some respect.

 

Dead is dead as my wife says, with due respect and she's Thai.

On 11/27/2024 at 3:16 AM, daveAustin said:

For sure, but how would you feel if you missed an important hospital appointment, meeting, flight etc? 

 

the population were advised of the closure, so everyone had the opportunity to take a different route, up to them.

8 hours ago, watchcat said:

 

Dead is dead as my wife says, with due respect and she's Thai.

So what? 

 

Millions of soldiers, sailors and airmen have died in wars across the world since 1914 yet they are still shown respect on Remembrance Sunday every year in London where parts of the cities roads are shut down every year.

2 minutes ago, billd766 said:

So what? 

 

Millions of soldiers, sailors and airmen have died in wars across the world since 1914 yet they are still shown respect on Remembrance Sunday every year in London where parts of the cities roads are shut down every year.

 

Of free will, mind you

16 minutes ago, watchcat said:

 

Of free will, mind you

You must be too young to remember conscription or national service then.

15 hours ago, billd766 said:

You must be too young to remember conscription or national service then.

 

I'd rather do some jailtime than joining the consciption/national servise

8 hours ago, watchcat said:

 

I'd rather do some jailtime than joining the consciption/national servise

National service was abolished in the UK in 1960.

 

BTW, doing jail time gives you a criminal record and screws up your credit rating if you need credit/debit cards.

57 minutes ago, billd766 said:

National service was abolished in the UK in 1960.

 

BTW, doing jail time gives you a criminal record and screws up your credit rating if you need credit/debit cards.

But it would give him time to brush-up on his spelling 555.

On 12/1/2024 at 2:38 PM, it is what it is said:

the population were advised of the closure, so everyone had the opportunity to take a different route, up to them.

 

Not really. If the  traffic department had posted roadway notices  in the weeks before such that road users would see and had a social media campaign, then yes your point would be valid. However, the advance notice was not effective as most drivers were unaware.

 

On 12/1/2024 at 11:06 PM, billd766 said:

You must be too young to remember conscription or national service then.

 

There were two types of conscripts: Those who had no issue with being conscripted and were prepared to do their duty when called upon and the selfish and/or cowards. The unwilling conscripted typically did non combat duties since they were not reliable and not particularly popular with those who were prepared to defend their nation. national service  was a reasonable request for the people benefiting from the society to contribute something back.

 

On 12/1/2024 at 10:33 AM, billd766 said:

Critics, (possibly concerned netizens) should wind their necks in and show some more respect.

Whilst I agree with your response, quote "Up yours the critics! (from a country bumpkin)" I think that your comment is mild compared to the one I would like to have made which may well have given me a long holiday from the forum.

(from another country bumpkin)

 

No. You are way off on this one. It is irresponsible to block a major artery during rush hour. There were few alternative routes.

A ceremony could have been held  without blocking all of the road. The ceremony was a cop out. Give the saps a ceremony so as to distract from the real issue of the failure to have prevented the  tragedy.

In my early years with the RAF I served with the last of the National service conscripts. During training, my maths instructor was a qualified chartered accountant. He was offered a short service commission as an officer, but turned it down as he would have had to sign up for 4 or 5 years, He explained that he could make far more money as a chartered accountant (his job was kept open for him for the duration of his National Service) than he would if he had taken the commission and he would also have lost his job.

 

As for drivers being unaware of road closures, (if the government had posted warning notices (apparently they did so), then it was the drivers problem and not the governments.