A grieving family prepares to receive the body of 'Nong Chui Chai' for religious rites after she was killed when a crane fell on a train in Sikhio district while returning home to attend her father's funeral.
A crane used in the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail construction collapsed onto the Bangkok-Ubon special express train in Nakhon Ratchasima province, causing a carriage to catch fire. The incident resulted in 32 deaths and 67 injuries. Officials mobilized to clear the wreckage of the train and crane from the tracks. The State Railway of Thailand suspended operations on the northeastern line for 14 hours. Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited issued a statement accepting responsibility, while Chinese authorities expressed condolences. The accident occurred on the morning of 14 Jan 2026 GMT+7, as previously reported.
Online communities expressed condolences to the victims and their families. Among the victims was Ms. Chananya Wongchan, known as Chui Chai. Previously, her boyfriend and friends posted appeals to locate her, as she had been traveling on that train to return home for her father's funeral. It was later confirmed that she was among those who died in the accident.
On 15 Jan 2026 GMT+7, reporters visited the funeral home of Mr. Saiwai Klinkanha, father of Ms. Chananya Wongchan, aka Chui Chai, at Ban Koetruat, Truad Subdistrict, Srinarong District, Surin Province. The atmosphere was somber. Mrs. Plian Klinkanha, Mr. Saiwai's wife, was seen discussing the train crane accident with Mr. Paiboon Thongphak, deputy mayor-elect of Truad Subdistrict.
Mrs. Plian Klinkanha told reporters that she and Mr. Saiwai had not been in contact with Ms. Chui Chai for a long time, as they lived separately. However, after Mr. Saiwai passed away, Ms. Chui Chai contacted them saying she wanted to pay her last respects to her father. Mrs. Plian welcomed her without objection. Later, she was shocked and saddened to learn that Nong Chui Chai had died in the crane accident. She expressed her condolences to Chui Chai's family and wished her spirit a peaceful afterlife.
Interviewed by reporters, Mr. Paiboon Thongphak, deputy mayor-elect of Truad Subdistrict, shared his deep sadness upon hearing that a local resident died in the crane accident on the train. He had known Chui Chai since she was a child. After completing elementary school, she moved to another province and only returned home during festivals, so they rarely met. He expressed sorrow over the incident and similar past events, urging for improved safety measures and controls to prevent such tragedies from recurring.
Reporters then visited the home of Ms. Chananya Wongchan, the deceased, and met relatives preparing for the funeral. Mrs. Rit Sudtep, Chui Chai's aunt, shared that Chui Chai worked in another province and returned home only occasionally during holidays to visit her mother and family. Chui Chai was the youngest of four siblings. Their father had passed away before the accident.
Chui Chai had called her mother to say she was coming back for their father's funeral. Although her mother told her it was unnecessary, Chui Chai insisted on coming. She also consulted her elder sister to help convince their mother. The family was initially unaware which train Chui Chai took or her arrival date. They later learned she was in the second carriage of the train involved in the accident and had died. The family is deeply saddened. Today, Chui Chai's mother and relatives went to receive her body to continue the funeral rites at home.
