Man Found Dead in Water Pit at Udon Thani Railway Housing 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

A man believed to be in his 40s or 50s was found dead and bloated in a disused water pit near the old railway staff quarters in Udon Thani, sparking fears among local homeless residents who believe the site may be cursed.

Emergency services were alerted early on 2 June after a homeless individual, who had been living in the disused housing compound near the railway station, spotted the body floating face-down in the water. Police investigators, rescue personnel from the Udon Thani Tham Foundation and forensic staff from Udon Thani Hospital quickly arrived at the scene, located in the Nong Lek community area next to the train tracks.

The deceased man, known only by the name “James,” had been seen frequently around the railway compound but was not known personally to the residents. He was found in a shallow water pit in front of the now-abandoned staff housing, scheduled for demolition.

Initial inspections found no signs of a struggle or suspicious items at the scene. The body was recovered and sent to Udon Thani Hospital’s forensic unit for formal identification and post-mortem examination. Authorities are attempting to locate the man’s family to claim the body.

One homeless resident who lives nearby told investigators that James had been seen just the day before walking around the area. He speculated that the man may have slipped and fallen into the pit during the night, as the body was not visible when residents came to draw water earlier that day.

Another long-term resident, known as “Pee Phen,” who has lived in the area for over seven years, claimed that she often hears eerie splashing sounds at night, as if someone were playing in the water. She also reported glimpsing strange shadowy figures near the pit. According to her, the pit has long been regarded with suspicion and she believes it may be haunted by spirits, a belief rooted in Thai folklore.

“I’ve always felt a strange energy here,” she said. “Sometimes I see something flash by, like a presence. The elders used to say there are spirits in these waters.”

While authorities have yet to confirm the cause of death, the story has sparked renewed local fears about the supposedly haunted location, to what appears, for now, to be an accidental death.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-06-03.