Dan Khun Thot in chaos as locals scramble to place shoes to reserve spots in line for "Thai Chuay Thai Plus" registration at the bank. Elderly complain, wishing aid distribution was like the senior citizen allowance.
Today (26 May 2026), reporters observed the atmosphere on the second day of registration for the "Thai Chuay Thai Plus" program at Krungthai Bank, Dan Khun Thot branch, Nakhon Ratchasima province. Many locals came to queue for registration and identity verification to join the program because some had yet to complete the process. These included people updating personal information, changing phones or phone numbers, those who lost their SIM cards, forgot the "Pao Tang" app password, and elderly individuals unfamiliar with social media, leading them to line up since early morning. Some arrived as early as 4:00 a.m. to avoid missing out on the government's aid program.
However, due to the large number of people waiting and the bank opening for queue registration only at 7:30 a.m., locals placed shoes or personal items such as water bottles or betel nut baskets in a line to reserve their spots. Meanwhile, the people themselves sat barefoot in open areas to avoid standing crowded in the sun, resting and having snacks nearby as they waited for bank staff to call the queue.
Problems arose when disputes broke out over placing shoes to hold queue spots. Some shoes were temporarily taken for wearing, causing confusion. Additionally, some took advantage of gaps in the queue to sneak their shoes in and cut ahead. It took some argument before the situation was resolved amicably.
Other locals, mostly elderly, watched the events and grumbled about the complications. For example, Mrs. Kab Bakhun Thot, 75, from Nong Krathiem Nuea village, Moo 3, Kud Manaphiman subdistrict, Dan Khun Thot district, Nakhon Ratchasima, said, "My children brought me to the bank since 4:00 a.m. We came together. We hadn't had breakfast yet and had to wake up early to queue before dawn, hoping to qualify for the program. But the process is complicated and difficult for banking transactions. I want to ask the government to distribute aid based on data like the senior citizen allowance."
When the bank staff began accepting queues at 7:30 a.m., chaos erupted again as everyone wanted to secure their participation in the program. People crowded and tried to push in through side doors, causing disorder and pushing. The bank manager instructed staff to organize entry in groups of five, allowing locals to enter gradually and complete the transaction and registration steps inside the bank.