Picture courtesy of Pattaya Mail

 

The Wan Lai water festival’s high-spirited revelry in Pattaya has left an unexpected headache in its wake. Public lifts across the city are malfunctioning, causing escalated accessibility issues.

 

The aftermath has seen the Department of Natural Resources and Environment spring into action, spearheading a clean-up campaign across impacted areas.

 

Residents are loudly voicing concerns over the broken lifts, which have been inevitably linked to water and powder damages incurred during the festival.

 

One particularly harrowing incident saw a local wheelchair user stranded when a lift at a crossing went kaput. Her partner had no choice but to physically carry her across the street—a precarious adventure, to say the least.

 

City officials have acknowledged the pervasive issue, with water infiltrating the lift systems, compromising vital electronics. "Repairs are currently underway," assured a spokesperson from the department, as maintenance crews diligently tackle the grime, moisture, and subsequent technical issues blighting the lift systems.

 

 

 

The beloved Wan Lai festival drew people out in droves, yet has highlighted public infrastructure vulnerabilities yet again, particularly in accessibility for wheelchair users and the elderly.

 

These individuals find pedestrian bridges arduous to navigate without functional lifts. The city is committed to ensuring all elevators regain operability post-haste.

 

Local authorities have called on the community to escalate any additional out-of-service lifts for prioritized maintenance. Meanwhile, officials are pleading for public patience as the significant post-festival clean-up continues through the next days.

 

As Pattaya increasingly becomes a tourist mecca basking in international attention, officials are re-evaluating strategies for better preservation of public amenities during cultural celebrations.

 

Preventative maintenance protocols will be reviewed to safeguard the city's infrastructure from future festivity-induced chaos.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-04-26

 

 

 

linked to water and powder damages incurred during the festival

 

Umm how so ?

Preventative measures, laughable.

 

There is no such thing as preventative maintenance in Thailand, everything is run until it breaks and is then repaired at vastly increased cost.

I have never seen a public lift at any crossing in Pattaya, and would be amazed if it were useable!

Lift? In Pattaya? I have never seen a lift in Pattaya: ever. Is this a translation issue? I have seen lifts in department stores and sometimes outside such as  in cities that have the topography that requires a lift such a Lisbon but never seen a lift in Pattaya.

8 minutes ago, Magictoad said:

Lift? In Pattaya? I have never seen a lift in Pattaya: ever. Is this a translation issue? I have seen lifts in department stores and sometimes outside such as  in cities that have the topography that requires a lift such a Lisbon but never seen a lift in Pattaya.

Apparently there is one. At Sukhumvit/Klang junction ...

https://www.bangkokpost.com/life/tech/1679048/hi-tech-bridge-eases-disabled-crossing-woes-in-pattaya

 

Edit: Looking again at the article, the pedestrian bridge is quite a way north of the junction.

5 hours ago, JoePai said:

linked to water and powder damages incurred during the festival

 

Umm how so ?

Low lying lifts, or over exuberant water fights?

'Chaos' again.   Calm here on the Darkside.   Let's rein in the hype, please.  

5 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

Apparently there is one. At Sukhumvit/Klang junction ...

https://www.bangkokpost.com/life/tech/1679048/hi-tech-bridge-eases-disabled-crossing-woes-in-pattaya

 

Edit: Looking again at the article, the pedestrian bridge is quite a way north of the junction.

 

Yes, it's adjacent to the Father Ray Foundation building which houses disabled children and students so ideally placed for these users.

21 hours ago, JoePai said:

linked to water and powder damages incurred during the festival

 

Umm how so ?

I was thinking 'SURPRISE' as the doors opened on reaching the ground floor!

23 hours ago, webfact said:

Residents are loudly voicing concerns over the broken lifts, which have been inevitably linked to water and powder damages incurred during the festival.

 

Remember this before you organize the next festval.