Thai authorities have pressed criminal charges against a bus operator following a bus fire that claimed the lives of 23 students and teachers earlier this week. The incident occurred in Pathum Thani, a northern suburb of Bangkok, when a bus carrying 45 individuals ignited. Only 22 people managed to escape the rapidly spreading blaze. Police identified the bus owner by her first name of Panissara and charged her with negligence resulting in death. Investigations suggest a gas leak may have spurred the fire.
The recently inspected bus was fitted with 11 gas canisters despite being certified for only six. Trairong Phiwpan, head of the police forensics department, revealed a loose gas tube on one of the unregistered canisters, though it was unclear if it was loose prior to the incident. The source of the ignition has yet to be determined. Many Thai vehicles use compressed natural gas (CNG) to cut costs, and the more than 50-year-old bus had been modified to run on that fuel.
Calls for improved safety measures continue as funeral services for the victims began Thursday in their hometown of Lan Sak. High-ranking officials attended, and a royally sponsored cremation is planned next week. Officials say the bus company failed to comply with the Department of Land Transport's urgent inspection order of its remaining buses. Officials using GPS managed to track them to a northeastern repair shop. Chirute Visalachitra, the department's director-general, noted the gas canisters had been taken off those buses; he called it "a criminal offense, a serious violation of the law." (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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