The Secretary-General of the Council of State revealed that the Prime Minister has assigned the Comptroller General's Department to provide aid to victims, clear obstacles to avoid impacting the economy, and pursue legal action. The State Railway of Thailand is assisting with insurance matters. The meeting discussed measures to handle companies with repeated violations.
15 Jan 2026 GMT+7 Mr. Pakorn Nilprapan, Secretary-General of the Council of State, said after a meeting discussing safety measures in transportation construction routes following the incident of a construction crane collapse, that the meeting discussed the following points:
1. Urgent assistance must be provided to the affected citizens.
2. The government prioritizes keeping transportation to the Northeast and South regions smooth and fluid; otherwise, it would significantly impact the economy.
3. Actions regarding those responsible—whether civil, criminal, or administrative liability—are to be determined. The Comptroller General's Department was assigned to consult the Procurement Review Committee to assess what can be done and how.
When asked if the responsible individuals have been identified, Pakorn said that anyone at fault will face legal proceedings, as per normal law. Regarding compensation, he stated that the meeting did not discuss this in detail because relevant agencies are handling it. The Prime Minister has instructed related agencies to proceed, including a fund to assist foreign tourists affected, while for Thai citizens, the State Railway of Thailand will help manage insurance and other related matters.
When further asked about the Prime Minister's mention that compensation might reach millions of baht and whether there is a legal basis or feasibility for this, Pakorn said he does not have the details and did not dare to answer. However, when there is damage, compensation must be given to the true victims based on actual losses. It is necessary to review how much fund or insurance is available. In truth, no one desires money; everyone wants to breathe and live. Public safety is paramount. The Prime Minister is greatly concerned about public safety and has ordered actions concerning projects where incidents have already occurred.
Additionally, for ongoing projects, measures need to be considered—whether to halt them, inspect all equipment, and review contract management processes. Currently, procurement laws focus on selecting contractors but pay little attention to contract management and compliance, especially regarding public safety, which is crucial to prevent such problems from recurring in the future.
Regarding whether companies will be blacklisted, Pakorn replied that no specific company names were mentioned but stated that facts will be reviewed to see who did what. If repeated incidents occur, can this be tolerated? If not, what actions will be taken against these companies? All these matters have their proper channels.