Gridlock as schools reopen
Yesterday was the delayed start of the second semester but more than 200 schools in greater Bangkok were still flooded and remained closed.
Up to 90 schools in Pathum Thani, 54 in Nakhon Pathom, 50 in Nonthaburi and 11 in Bangkok were expected to reopen next Tuesday, said Pitsanu Tulasuk, deputy secretary-general of the Basic Education Commission.
However, if any of them were still inundated by then, they might postpone their classes again, he said.
Many streets leading to schools in Bangkok were gridlocked, like Vibhavadi Road in front of Surasakmontree School during rush hour. Parents were allowed to stop in front of the school to drop off their children and then leave quickly to ease the congestion. Some students of Horwang School said they had to leave home an hour early to avoid the traffic jams.
Students living in the Don Muang area said commuting to school was more difficult and expensive as some public buses coming from Rangsit in Pathum Thani were not running.
They had to take taxis and motorcycle taxis to school instead and pay more in fares.
Traffic was backed up from the Lat Phrao intersection to the Ratchayothin intersection and on Sukhaphiban 5 Road.
Pol Maj-General Uthaiwan Kaeosa-at, commander of Traffic Police, said the overall situation in Bangkok was not so bad. Police could deal with it.
Police had recommended to parents which roads to take to avoid traffic and to leave home earlier than usual, he said.
