THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Grief-stricken Muslims consider alternative transport

Grief-stricken Muslims consider alternative transport

FOR NEARLY a century, Muslims in Ayutthaya province have headed to an annual merit-making festival at the Takia Yokin Mosque by boat, but the recent fatal accident, which caused 28 deaths, may change all that.

“Most villagers now say they |want to travel by car or bus in-|stead,” Jakkrit Senkhao, imam of A-Lee Yinnuroy mosque, said yesterday. 
On Sunday, nearly 100 people living near his mosque joined a boat trip to the festival, but many of them did not return alive. 
Their boat capsized on the Chao Phraya River in the afternoon, killing 28 passengers and injuring dozens of others. 
Jakkrit said he would discuss |with imams from other mosques |in Ayutthaya’s Mueang district |the possibility of changing the |mode of transport for the annual festival. 
“We need to ensure that no |such tragedy ever occurs again,” |he said, adding, “At this point, |we have not yet reached a conclu-sion, but I will definitely raise |the idea of using cars with other imams.” 
A local resident, Preecha Yimyoo, said he intended to join the an-|nual merit-making trip next year, no matter what mode of transport was used.
“But during the past few days, I’ve heard that we will be travelling in cars instead,” he added. 
Jakkrit said a transport-safety discussion was essential after the accident. 
He lamented that Sunday’s tragedy had taken the lives of 28 people, who meant the world to the families left behind. 
Preecha lost three family members in the accident. 
“We are shocked. We are grieving,” Jakkrit said. 
Every evening this week, locals have gathered at his mosque to |pray for those who have perished, and he said the mosque would |conduct merit-making rituals |in their memory for a full week. 
The mosque has received some financial donations and rice for the victims’ families, he added.
There are now concerns, how-ever, that the families of the vic-|tims may not find it easy getting compensation, due to insurance issues. 
While the boat owner had taken out insurance, his vessel was |supposed to carry just 50 passengers. 
But, at the time of the accident, it is estimated that there were more than 100 people on board.
It was also revealed that the licence of the boat driver, who is now facing charges over the accident, had already expired. 
At this point, the families of the victims have only been given Bt5,000 per fatality. 
The boat, which was partial-|ly sunk in the accident, has |already been salvaged and |towed to a garage for police examination.
Meanwhile, search operations continued in the Pasak River yesterday for two missing victims of another boat tragedy. 
The victims were rowers, aged 17 and 23, whose boat capsized during a practice session on the river on Tuesday. 
 
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