Monk Braved Raging Floodwaters by Zipline to Conduct Funeral

Picture courtesy of Amarin.

A Buddhist monk in Chiang Mai, has captured hearts after risking his life to cross a raging mountain torrent on a makeshift zipline to conduct funeral rites in an isolated hill village.

The extraordinary moment unfolded on 29 August, in Ban Nahong, Mae Chaem district, Chiang Mai, after flash floods tore through the area, washing away the bridge that connected the community to the outside world. With access cut off, residents feared a local funeral could not go ahead.

Footage recorded by local resident Prathum Anakom shows the monk being strapped into a sling before being hauled across the swollen stream, suspended over the roaring floodwaters. Despite the obvious danger, the monk remained calm, clutching his saffron robes as villagers on both banks worked together to pull him across.

Once safely on the other side, he made his way through driving rain to the home of the deceased, where he led prayers and chanted funeral rites, bringing comfort to grieving relatives.

Locals praised the monk’s determination, saying his actions reflected both deep compassion and the unwavering commitment of Thailand’s Buddhist clergy to their communities.

Thailand has been battered by torrential rains in recent days, with flash floods and landslides causing deaths, damage to property and widespread disruption across northern provinces.

For the residents of Ban Nahong, however, faith prevailed over disaster. “No matter how hard it was, the monk came,” one villager said. “That gave us strength.”

  Adapted by Asean Now from Amarin 2025-08-31