"Pipat" orders an investigation into the collapse of a high-speed construction crane, setting a 15-day deadline for the report.

"Pipat" orders the appointment of a committee to investigate the facts and causes of the construction crane collapse that crushed the train at the high-speed train project, setting a deadline of 15 days for the report.

January 16, 2569 at 14.35:XNUMX p.m. Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport The Ministry of Transport has been instructed to appoint a fact-finding committee to investigate the implementation of safety standards in construction work, and to determine the facts and causes of the accident involving a construction crane in the Thailand-China high-speed rail project, Phase 1, Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima section, Contract 3-4, civil works between Lam Ta Khong-Sikhiu and Kut Chik-Kok Kruat, which collapsed onto a train on January 14, 2569. The committee has been given 15 days from today to report its findings.

Mr. Anan Pothinimdaeng, Deputy Governor of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), acting as Governor, reported the incident to the SRT Board of Directors for their information and consideration of clear measures to compensate those affected, as instructed by the Prime Minister. He assigned the relevant departments to consider the matter, which concluded that:

• In the event of a fatality, the State Railway of Thailand and the contracting company will provide compensation of 1,340,000 baht per person.
• In the event of injuries, the State Railway of Thailand will be responsible for medical expenses until recovery.

If there is any other damage or loss of property, those affected should submit claims to the State Railway of Thailand for consideration of compensation on a case-by-case basis. Measures should also be established to prevent similar incidents from happening again in the future. Simultaneously, the Central Committee for Consideration of Railway Accidents will be tasked with conducting a fact-finding investigation.

Mr. Anan Added that According to railway construction standards in areas with active train operations, contractors must provide an engineer or coordination team to work with the station master. When a train passes through a construction site, all construction work in that area must be halted to ensure maximum passenger safety. It must be rigorously verified that the contractor has fully complied with all relevant guidelines and regulations, and that any deficiencies in construction procedures, equipment, tools, or supervisory personnel are identified to determine the cause of the problem.

Meanwhile, the State Railway of Thailand has completed moving the train carriages off the railway line, and the contractor is preparing to remove all damaged launchers from the area. Repair work will then begin, which is expected to take approximately 7 days. However, moving forward, the State Railway of Thailand will expedite a thorough inspection of launchers in all construction projects and install additional monitoring and surveillance systems, such as sensors and closed-circuit television (CCTV), to enhance safety and build public confidence.

In terms of legal proceedings, the State Railway of Thailand has filed a police report to initiate criminal proceedings in cases of fatalities, as well as pursue civil lawsuits. Due to the damage to property, reputation, and credibility of the organization, as well as the injuries and fatalities suffered by those injured or killed, the details of liability will be determined based on the results of the fact-finding investigation.

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• The Office of the Insurance Commission (OIC), in collaboration with insurance companies, is paying claims for the accident where a construction crane for the high-speed rail project fell onto a train. Initial compensation is 1 million baht per deceased person.