On the evening of May 21, 2024, around 9:30 p.m., 71-year-old Mrs. Somchit fell into an uncovered drainpipe near Tam Chok Restaurant on Chaiyaphruek Road in Bang Phlap Subdistrict, Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi Province. The incident, reported by the public, prompted Bua Phet Rescue Volunteers to rush to the scene.
Rescuers found Mrs. Somchit lying on the sidewalk with a broken left eyebrow and pain in her right leg. They administered first aid before transporting her to Pak Kret 2 Hospital. Villagers had attempted to prevent further accidents by placing iron poles over the uncovered drain. Miss Yupha, Mrs. Somchit’s 63-year-old sister, explained that a miscommunication with a taxi driver had left them needing to call another taxi, during which time Mrs. Somchit, feeling unwell, walked towards the sidewalk and fell into the drain.
Ms. Arunee, a 29-year-old employee at a nearby rice porridge shop, recounted being asked for help by a passerby who informed her of the fall. She initially attempted to assist alone but then sought help from customers. Together, they used a ladder to lift Mrs. Somchit out of the drain.
The incident highlighted the dangers posed by many uncovered manholes in the area due to ongoing road expansion work. Mr. Thammarong, 33, owner of Tam Chok shop, mentioned that the manhole covers were often left open after construction work, posing a significant hazard to pedestrians.
Further investigation by reporters on May 22, 2024, revealed that the drainpipe into which Mrs. Somchit had fallen was approximately 80×80 centimeters wide and 1.5 meters deep. The site had a makeshift cover consisting of a clothes drying rack and a blue canvas bag. Additionally, one of the wooden pallet covers used to block the drain had gone missing, possibly stolen by local thieves. CCTV footage from the Tam Chok Restaurant captured the moment of the accident and the subsequent efforts by good Samaritans to help Mrs. Somchit.
Mr. Worawut Suksawaeng, the Chaiyaphruek Road Expansion Project Manager, confirmed that there are about 600 manholes along the 6-kilometer stretch of the project, with routine checks every three days. He acknowledged that the wooden pallet covers had been targeted by thieves, leading to dangerous gaps. Mr. Worawut assured that steel and concrete covers would be installed to replace the stolen wooden pallets, with completion expected within a month. In the interim, temporary measures were being taken to secure the exposed manholes. The company pledged to take full responsibility for Mrs. Somchit’s medical care and well-being.
Ms. Suphaporn Lakthong, a local durian seller, corroborated the theft issues, stating that she had witnessed thieves stealing the wooden pallets, particularly during the evening. These thefts have created hazardous conditions for pedestrians, as evidenced by the recent accident.
Local authorities and project managers are now under pressure to address these safety concerns swiftly to prevent further incidents. The community hopes that the new measures will ensure the safety of all pedestrians in the area.
