Sorrow and anger as families farewell Thai school bus fire victims: Video
Thousands gathered in central Thailand on Tuesday, October 8 for the last rites of 20 schoolchildren and three teachers who died in a bus fire last week.
The victims were returning from a school trip when their bus blew a tire, crashed into a highway barrier just north of Bangkok, and caught fire.
Families gathered at the school in Uthai Thani province, where the children studied. As a marching band played in the rain, royal palace staff carried the coffins on traditional funerary carriages, while parents dressed in black placed portraits and toys beside them.
“I hoped it wasn't my son,” said Wichan Suebsaichan, father of nine-year-old Reutthawat, who dreamed of being a football player.
“Now the house just seems too quiet. I can't handle it. May he rest in peace," Bantima Tuadchampa, who lost her six-year-old grandson was quoted by AFP.
Monks chanted as the 23 caskets were placed in individual cremation furnaces, ending a week of ceremonies. About 5,000 people attended the mass cremation, including community members and government officials.
In the wake of the tragedy, Thai police arrested the bus driver, Samarn Chanput, 48, who faces charges including reckless driving causing death. The incident has raised public concern about vehicle safety, prompting the transport ministry to recall over 13,000 gas-fueled buses for checks.
