King orders authorities to care for mourners

AUTHORITIES are making efforts to ensure that people visiting the Royal Cremation Ceremony for His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej will be taken care of as well as possible on the orders of HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
Public Relations Department official Pornpitak Mansiri told a press conference yesterday that the King had expressed concern over loyal subjects who had showed up for the ceremonies and ordered authorities to look after the well-being of the people and to ensure they were comfortable during the event.
Pornpitak said the commander of the Royal Thai Army had deployed military units to lay out mattresses on the ceremonial grounds to accommodate people who would be sitting in the open, exposed to the heat and rains, for long hours.
Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan said the King had also allowed the opening of a footpath along the wall of the Grand Palace on Maharat and Tai Wang roads as well as the interior area of Sanam Luang Plaza, which could accommodate up to 110,000 people, to allow as many people as possible to take part in the historic event.
The joint command centre for the Royal Cremation Ceremony expected more than 250,000 people would show up for the ceremony. 
Pornpitak suggested the public should make sure that they were healthy enough to attend, because visitors would have to wait outdoors for long hours in unpredictable weather conditions.
“We are concerned about the health and well-being of people, as we have noticed that our healthcare units are receiving a rising number of patients,” he said.
He also encouraged the people to plan which screening point that they would transit, because many checkpoints had been overwhelmed by large crowds yesterday morning and had to temporarily close.
Due to the overwhelming number of people, all nine screening points providing entry to the Royal Cremation Ceremony were temporarily closed until 8pm yesterday, Deputy Commander of Metropolitan Police Pol Maj-General Jirasan Kaewsangaek said.

Accommodations provided
“We understand that people are wanting to get into the Royal Cremation ceremonial grounds, but we have to spare the area for this evening’s religious ceremony, which the Royal Family will also attend, so some of the area inside the ceremonial grounds is still not open to the public,” Jirasan said.
“Due to the restriction in some areas, officers have to close all screening points but we will open them again right after the area is prepared to facilitate people.”
He added that people already in the queue would definitely be able to enter the venue, because the area could facilitate up to 110,000 people and only 20,000 had turned up by yesterday morning.
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) permanent secretary assistant Kriengkrai Chongcharoen said the BMA had provided adequate toilets and accommodation.
“The BMA has prepared 6.5 million plates of food catering for three meals for people every day. There are also 70 toilet buses, 150 mobile toilets and many public toilets available for people in and around the ceremonial area, which is enough for people,” Kriengkrai said.
He also said people who came from other provinces could find free accommodation at 164 temples, schools and youth centres in 35 districts across Bangkok, which could accommodate up to 20,000 people.
He added that people could use free public transport in Bangkok from yesterday until tomorrow.