Sikhiu: The acting governor of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has mandated an investigation into the crane collapse that crushed a train in Sikhiu, setting a 15-day deadline for concluding the probe. The SRT is considering blacklisting the contractor if serious misconduct is found and is expediting compensation of 1 million baht per deceased victim.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Anan Pothinimdaeng, Acting Governor of the SRT, convened a board meeting to discuss the incident's details. Post-meeting, the SRT Governor disclosed that a report had been submitted to the railway board, and actions are being taken as per the Minister of Transport's guidelines. The process involves managing the incident, compensating those affected, and reviewing measures to prevent recurrence. Mr. Pothinimdaeng expressed regret over the incident, stating he did not foresee such an accident.
The preliminary investigation into the cause is led by a committee appointed by the Minister of Transport, chaired by the Deputy Permanent Secretary, with independent engineering organizations participating. The SRT has also formed a central committee to investigate alongside the official committee.
The incident took place at a complex construction site on a curved section of the high-speed rail line, where an elevated structure spanned the existing tracks. Regulations require halting equipment movement during risky operations in open areas. The investigation will determine if procedures were followed and if an engineer was supervising the work.
The Governor stated that the damage included two diesel railcars, with repair costs estimated at 105 million baht. The SRT has filed criminal charges and will consider civil action against the contractor post-investigation. The accident wreckage has been cleared, and plans are underway to dismantle the crane carefully.
The railway route is expected to reopen within approximately 7 days after repairs. In the interim, a detour route via Buayai is in place. The project is insured, covering performance, employees, and third parties. Compensation discussions with the insurance company are ongoing, with initial compensation for deceased victims set at approximately 1 million baht each.
Regarding the contractor, Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited (ITD) is undertaking the project without subcontractors. Should the investigation uncover serious wrongdoing, the SRT may consider blacklisting ITD, but this would require procedural adherence and a report to the Department of the Comptroller General.
Additional safety measures will be implemented on other construction sites overlapping railway lines, including installing CCTV cameras and sensors. In response to news reports about a review of the SRT Governor's performance, he emphasized collective responsibility among SRT officials. Future policies depend on established procedures, and current efforts focus on resolving the issue effectively.