The charred remains of a bus carrying 38 students and six teachers on what was supposed to be an educational field trip from Uthai Thani have cast a somber shadow over the highway in the Rangsit area of Pathum Thani on Tuesday. The tragedy has left the nation heartbroken. (Photo: Pongpat Wongyala)
In a devastating turn of events, twenty students and three teachers lost their lives to a ferocious fire that engulfed their bus in Pathum Thani. As the smoke cleared, the fate of two others remained distressingly unclear. Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit confirmed that sixteen students and three teachers were rushed to nearby hospitals, and an investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.
Doctors at patRangsit Hospital reported that out of the three students admitted for burn treatment, two required ventilator support—a grim testament to the severity of their injuries. The bus driver, identified as Samarn Chankut, initially fled the scene, his mobile phone conspicuously turned off. Acting national police chief Pol Lt Gen Kittirat Phunphet later revealed that Samarn had fled to Ang Thong, only to surrender to police there on Tuesday night. He is currently in custody at Khu Khot police station in Pathum Thani.
Rescue workers, recounting the horror, said 15 of the deceased were primary school pupils, six were high schoolers, and heartbreakingly, six kindergarten pupils survived the horrifying ordeal. The ill-fated bus was transporting 38 students from Kindergarten 2 to Mathayom 3, along with six teachers from Wat Khao Praya Sangkharam school in Lan Sak district of Uthai Thani province.
The tragic sequence of events began around noon, as police at Khu Khot station were alerted to a bus engulfed in flames on an inbound lane of Vibhavadi Rangsit and Phahon Yothin roads, near the bustling Zeer Rangsit shopping centre in Lam Luk Ka district. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the bus’s front left tire blew out, causing the wheel to ignite. The driver lost control, and the vehicle veered into the median barrier. Flames rapidly climbed from the wheel well, consuming the bus in minutes.
Initial images on social media amplified the public’s horror, showing thick grey smoke billowing from the bus while parts of it remained alight. The bus was part of a three-vehicle convoy, ferrying students to an exhibition at the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand in Bang Kruai district, Nonthaburi. Earlier that day, they had visited History Park in Ayutthaya on what was meant to be an enriching one-day trip. The bus was owned by Chinnaboot Tour, a company based in Sing Buri.
The school quickly reacted, posting a Facebook message urging the parents of all students on the trip to converge at the school, where a coordination center had been established to assist them. The school’s temporary command post became a hub of frantic worry and confusion as parents struggled to get news of their children’s whereabouts. (Story continues below)
PM in Tears
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, visibly shaken, extended her heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and those injured in the tragic incident. She promised that the government would shoulder medical expenses and provide financial support to the victims’ families. Later, the Prime Minister visited patRangsit hospital, openly moved by her interactions with the survivors.
Concerns over safety measures were immediately raised, with Dr. Thanapong Jinwong, head of the Centre for Road Safety, questioning the presence and use of fire extinguishers on the bus. Critically, he noted that the coach had one exit in the middle and another at the back, which was both locked and too high for the children to climb out of in an emergency.
Additionally, there were disturbing, unverified reports suggesting that the bus was gas-powered and had a leak. Police and the Department of Land Transport plan an extensive investigation to determine if the gas installation was original or an after-market modification, and whether it complied with safety standards.
This is heart-wrenching. My thoughts and prayers are with the families. But where were the safety measures?
Exactly! How could such basic safety measures be overlooked? Those poor kids!
Safety measures are costly but not more costly than lives. This is unacceptable.
We need stricter enforcement of safety standards. The government has to do more!
It’s horrifying how the driver fled the scene. Absolute cowardice.
I can’t even imagine the panic, but fleeing is unforgivable. He should face severe punishment.
Agreed. He deserves the worst punishment possible for abandoning those kids.
Running away only made things worse. A driver should have some responsibility. Disgusting!
While we mourn, we must focus on how to prevent such tragedies in the future. Government reforms are critical.
Absolutely. This calls for sweeping reforms in public transport safety. No more shortcuts.
Public awareness campaigns and enforced regulations can save lives. We can’t be complacent.
Why is it always after a tragedy that we talk about reforms? We should have proactive measures in place.
It’s a sad reality. We are always reactive instead of proactive. Things need to change!
Education on safety from a young age and strict adherence to protocols can make a difference.
I can’t help but think of the parents frantically looking for their kids. My heart breaks for them.
It’s unimaginable pain. I hope they get all the support they need.
The emotional toll is heavy. I hope they can find some form of solace eventually.
Prime Minister’s response seems sincere, but will the government follow through with meaningful actions?
Politicians often make promises they can’t keep. Only time will tell if her words mean anything.
We need to hold our leaders accountable. Empty promises aren’t enough.
True, but the emotional response could mean she genuinely cares. Let’s hope for some real change.
If the gas installation was indeed an after-market mod, heads must roll. This is beyond negligence.
Agree. Cutting corners with children’s safety is criminal. Someone has to be held accountable!
It’s terrifying to think such changes could go unchecked. Strict regulations on bus modifications should be enforced.
Why do incidents like this keep happening? Are our roads and vehicles that unsafe?
Sadly, yes. Maintenance and checks aren’t taken seriously enough in many places.
This speaks volumes about the overall infrastructure and safety compliance. Urgent reforms needed.
The bus company should be shut down if they’re found guilty of neglect. Lives were lost.
I hope this tragedy raises awareness and leads to immediate reforms in school transportation safety.
What a disaster. How could something like this even happen in this day and age?
The vehicle should have been thoroughly screened before the trip. Who’s responsible for this oversight?
We always point fingers after the fact, but the system needs a complete overhaul. Safety should be non-negotiable.
It’s about time we introduce more stringent regulations for vehicular safety, especially for public transport.