Tragedy Sparks Reforms: A Thai Bus Fire's Lasting Impact

A tragic bus fire during a school field trip killed 23 students and teachers in Thailand, leading to national outrage and immediate legal actions. The accident has prompted a nationwide safety reassessment and inspections of CNG buses, highlighting concerns over vehicle safety standards.

Mourners gathered in grief as monks prayed at a cremation ceremony held Tuesday for 23 young students and teachers tragically killed in a bus fire during a school field trip in central Thailand.

The ceremony took place near the temple in Lan Sak town, which housed the school attended by the victims. Special cremation furnaces with chimneys adorned with flowers were erected for the solemn event.

The bus fire, which occurred on Oct. 1 on a highway near Bangkok, spread rapidly, claiming the lives of 17 students and six teachers. This calamity led to public outcry over lax safety measures. Authorities have since arrested the bus driver and charged the owner with negligence causing death, as investigations revealed the bus carried more gas canisters than permitted.

In a bid to prevent future tragedies, officials ordered inspections of over 13,000 CNG-fueled buses within 60 days, while the Education Ministry halted school trips. King Maha Vajiralongkorn sponsored the cremation, marking the solemnity of the occasion.

(With inputs from agencies.)