The parents of Private Pariwat rushed to visit their son after he stepped on a landmine and lost his right leg. They expressed their sorrow over the incident. Meanwhile, the hospital director confirmed that the surgical team performed an operation to preserve the right leg as best as possible despite the injury.
According to the report from the 2nd Army Region, on 11 Feb 2026 at 16:40, a soldier was injured after stepping on an explosive device during clearance and reconnaissance operations within the unit's controlled area to establish security at the base of operations.
The seriously injured soldier is Private Pariwat Meemana, assigned to Infantry Company 132, who suffered an amputation of the left leg and a large laceration on the right leg. Additionally, two soldiers sustained minor injuries: Staff Sergeant Pramot Deepak and Private Jakpong Photmueang. The unit immediately provided first aid following battlefield life-saving protocols and urgently transferred them to a capable medical facility. They are currently under close medical supervision.
Most recently, at 09:30 on 12 Feb 2026, outside the emergency room of Surin Hospital, the news team met Mrs. Buaphan Thamjak, 51, and Mr. Amphon Meemana, 52, from Kheng Yai Subdistrict, Huatan District, Amnat Charoen Province. They had come to visit their severely injured son, Private Pariwat Meemana, also known as Private Pang, along with over 10 relatives.
Mrs. Buaphan said her son is cheerful, and she communicates with him daily via LINE; when he is free, he replies. After the incident, there were no warning signs; he only mentioned he would return around April.
Dr. Chawamai Suebnukarn, director of Surin Hospital, told the news team by phone that Private Pariwat’s condition is now stable. However, the right leg sustained severe lacerations with significant blood loss. The hospital has supplied sufficient blood. Although the right leg is seriously injured, the surgical team has operated to preserve it as best as possible.
The news team also visited Private Pariwat Meemana’s home in Kheng Yai Subdistrict, Huatan District, Amnat Charoen Province, where they met Ms. Piamanee Champatho, 52, a teacher at Ban Chad School, who had taught Private Pariwat and also teaches his older brother at the same school.
She told the news team she had taught Private Pang since kindergarten. He was a good child who was determined to become a soldier from a young age. His older brother is a contract teacher at the same school. Upon hearing the news, she felt sadness and sympathy for Private Pang’s family, especially since their mother suffers from Parkinson’s disease.
Their father and middle brother work in other provinces, so the eldest brother has taken on the responsibility of caring for their mother at home. Recently, the eldest brother passed the assistant teacher exam and is preparing for a civil servant teacher interview in the next two to three days. Upon learning the news, they all visited Private Pang since yesterday evening. Currently, no one is at home. She hopes there will be welfare support for soldiers injured in this incident.
Mr. Prayoon Nilphet, 62, the uncle living next door to Private Pang’s family, said that Private Pang is like a son or grandson to him. Private Pang is the youngest son, with two older brothers. Since childhood, he intended to be a soldier and volunteered for military service this time, hoping to become a non-commissioned officer in the future. Private Pang was due to be discharged in a few months but planned to stay to take the NCO exam.
However, this incident happened beforehand. Private Pang had recently returned home to vote on 10 Feb. Usually, before leaving, Private Pang’s mother would tie a bracelet on his wrist, but that morning he left early before she was awake, so the bracelet was not tied as usual. The uncle expressed his sadness over the incident, especially since border clashes had calmed down, and urged the government to provide appropriate compensation and support to the injured soldier.