145 killed first

145 Killed in First Three Days of New Year Holidays in Thailand

ByJustpaste.in

BANGKOK, Jan 2 – The death toll from road accidents during the so-called “seven dangerous days” of the New Year holiday period has climbed sharply, with 145 fatalities and 769 injuries reported in the first three days alone. Authorities announced the grim statistics on Friday, revealing Bangkok as the deadliest province and Phuket as the accident hotspot.

Holiday Road Carnage: Speeding and Drunk Driving Claim Dozens in Thailand

Jirapong Thepphitak, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Transport, presented the latest figures from the Road Safety Directing Centre. He reported that on New Year’s Day, January 1, a single day saw 54 lives lost and 317 injured across 26 accidents nationwide. Speeding remained the leading cause, responsible for 40.18% of the crashes, followed closely by drunk driving at 29.45%. Motorcycles were involved in a staggering 76.92% of all incidents.

“The most dangerous time period was between 12:01 p.m. and 3:00 a.m., accounting for 25.15% of the accidents,” Mr. Jirapong stated. “The highest number of casualties were among people between the ages of 20 and 29.” Most accidents occurred on straight roads, with highways and local village roads being the most common sites.

Cumulatively, from December 29 to January 1, the country recorded 798 accidents. While Phuket led with the highest number of total accidents (34) and injuries (38), the capital city of Bangkok suffered the highest death toll with 12 fatalities.

New Year 2026 Road Safety Campaign Launched Nationwide

With a massive influx of over 700,000 vehicles expected to return to Bangkok and other provinces over the weekend, authorities are bracing for further challenges. Saharat Wongsakulwiwat, deputy director-general of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, warned that traffic is anticipated to peak on Sunday. In response, safety measures have been intensified, including the establishment of additional checkpoints, service stations, and special traffic lanes to manage congestion. Local authorities have been ordered to tighten community checkpoints and rigorously enforce drunk driving laws.

The dangers were starkly illustrated in Phuket province, where at the Tom Yum Goong intersection in Karon, a six-wheel truck lost control while descending a hill. The vehicle skidded, crashed into a parked car, and then plunged onto the road shoulder, resulting in one injury. The incident underscores the ongoing risks on the roads as the holiday travel period continues.

-Thailand News (TN)

Similar Posts

  • | |

    AJK election commission revises third-phase pollin…

    ByJustpaste.in

    The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission has revised the schedule for the third phase of the Legislative Assembly elections. Polling in Poonch and Sudhanoti districts has been postponed. The election commission has now decided to hold the third phase in Bagh and Haveli districts. Under the earlier schedule, polling was planned for August 10. Voting was expected to take place across 11 seats in four districts of the Poonch division. The election authorities have now changed the plan. The new schedule will cover constituencies in Bagh and Haveli. The first two phases of the AJK elections have already been completed. The first phase was held on July 27 in the Mirpur Division. The second phase took place on August 2 in the Muzaffarabad Division. The elections are being closely watched because of the political contest between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party. The PML-N has emerged as the leading party in the first two phases. Its leaders have claimed that the party has secured enough support to form the next AJK government. In the second phase, voting was held in 21 constituencies. Nine seats were located in the Muzaffarabad Division. Twelve seats were reserved for Kashmiri refugees settled in different parts of Pakistan. According to unofficial and provisional results, the PML-N won 15 of the 21 seats. The PPP secured the remaining six seats. The PML-N had also performed strongly during the first phase. Unofficial results showed the party winning nine constituencies. The PPP won four seats. The election process has also been accompanied by allegations of irregularities and violence. The PPP has questioned the fairness of the elections and accused the authorities of failing to ensure a transparent process. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has strongly criticised the election process. He described the polls as unfair and alleged that violence and irregularities affected the voting. Bilawal also said the PPP would continue its political struggle despite the party’s performance in the elections. He claimed that the federal government would face political challenges in the future. The PML-N has rejected the allegations. PML-N leader and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah challenged the PPP to present evidence of electoral irregularities before the election commission. He said accusations should be supported by evidence. He also accused the PPP of promoting allegations of rigging from the beginning of the election process. The revised schedule has now shifted attention towards Bagh and Haveli. The election authorities are expected to provide further details about polling arrangements and the dates for voting in the postponed constituencies.

  • | |

    LHC grants protective bail to Noreen Niazi

    ByJustpaste.in

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday granted one-week protective bail to Noreen Niazi, the sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, in a case registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The court also restrained the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) from arresting her during this period. The relief was granted after Noreen filed a petition seeking protection from arrest. She informed the court that she intended to approach the relevant court for pre-arrest bail but feared that investigators could detain her before she had the opportunity to seek legal remedy. After hearing the arguments, Justice Sardar Akbar Dogar directed the NCCIA not to arrest Noreen for one week. The court also instructed her to appear before the competent court within the given time to seek further legal relief in accordance with the law. The case against Noreen was registered after authorities accused her of sharing content that allegedly contained false, offensive and inflammatory statements on social media. Investigators claimed the material was intended to spread misleading narratives and damage the reputation of state institutions. The allegations are linked to remarks she made during a podcast interview. In the interview, she discussed national security issues and made comments regarding regional political developments. Short video clips from the interview later circulated widely on social media, prompting authorities to launch an investigation. Following the viral circulation of the clips, the NCCIA initiated an inquiry and registered a formal case against her. The agency invoked provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act along with relevant sections of the Pakistan Penal Code related to public mischief and criminal intimidation. Earlier this month, the NCCIA issued a notice directing Noreen to appear before its Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Islamabad to record her statement. The notice warned that failure to appear before investigators could result in further legal action under applicable laws. During the hearing, Noreen’s legal counsel argued that she had no intention of avoiding the investigation and was willing to cooperate with authorities. However, the defence maintained that immediate protection was necessary to ensure she could exercise her legal right to seek pre-arrest bail without facing detention. The court accepted these arguments and granted temporary relief, preventing her arrest for one week while allowing her to pursue legal remedies before the appropriate forum. The latest court order does not dispose of the case or determine the merits of the allegations. Instead, it provides temporary protection until Noreen appears before the relevant court to seek further relief.

  • |

    PTI gears up for August 5 rally

    ByJustpaste.in

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has stepped up preparations for its August 5 public rally, launching a mobilisation campaign to bring party workers together in Peshawar and other parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. PTI workers are holding meetings across the provincial capital, while banners and promotional material for the rally have begun appearing in different areas of the city. Party leader Zubair Ahmad Qureshi said workers from other provinces would also attend the gathering, which will take place near the Peshawar Motorway Plaza. Qureshi called the event one of the biggest rallies in the province’s history and said PTI would observe August 5 as a “day of referendum.” He also said Chief Minister Sohail Afridi would make an important announcement about the party’s future strategy. The PTI leader said party workers had prepared for a movement seeking the release of the party’s founding chairman and would not compromise on the demand. He added that the party had expanded its outreach campaign and started contacting members of the business community. Qureshi said PTI would also observe August 5 as a Black Day and hold a strike. However, he stressed that the party would keep its protest peaceful.

  • | |

    Japan’s 7.1 quake injures 50, cuts power to 40,0…

    ByJustpaste.in

    A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake jolted Japan’s southern Kumamoto prefecture on Tuesday, leaving at least 50 people injured, disrupting transport and cutting electricity to around 40,000 homes as authorities warned residents to remain alert for aftershocks. The earthquake struck Kyushu, Japan’s southwestern main island, at a depth of about 10 kilometres, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The tremor reached the highest level of 7 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale in parts of Kumamoto, underlining the strength of the shaking. The powerful tremor damaged roads, bridges and buildings, while transport services across the affected region were thrown into disruption. Rail services, including high-speed trains, were suspended, while Kumamoto airport also temporarily closed its runway. The earthquake also triggered an emergency response across Kyushu. Authorities urged more than 150,000 residents to evacuate as officials assessed damage and monitored the situation. Reports said a fire and explosion occurred at a shopping mall, while a goods train was derailed during the chaos. For residents, the immediate concern was not only the first powerful jolt but the possibility of more shaking. Japanese authorities issued warnings over potential aftershocks and landslides, urging people in affected areas to remain cautious and follow official instructions. A tsunami warning was also issued after the earthquake, with authorities warning of waves of up to one metre along parts of the Ariake and Yatsushiro seas. The warning was later lifted after no significant tsunami activity was observed. Despite the widespread disruption, there were no reports of irregularities at nuclear power plants in the affected region, providing some relief as authorities continued their assessment. The earthquake has also drawn attention because Kumamoto has experienced devastating seismic activity before. The region was badly hit by a major earthquake sequence in 2016, which caused extensive destruction and hundreds of deaths. Japan is among the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, making disaster preparedness a central part of everyday life. Yet the latest tremor again demonstrated how quickly a powerful earthquake can disrupt communities, transport networks and essential services. With rescue and assessment operations continuing, authorities are now focused on helping those injured, restoring electricity and transport, and preparing residents for potentially dangerous aftershocks.

  • | |

    Modi calls for mercy as India moves past exam prot…

    ByJustpaste.in

    NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for compassion toward students who participated in recent nationwide protests over a controversial examination paper leak, saying that punishment alone would not resolve the underlying issues that triggered one of the biggest political challenges of his third term. In a video message shared on social media, Modi said he wanted to forgive students who shouted abusive slogans against him during demonstrations held across the country last month. He argued that dragging young protesters through lengthy legal proceedings would not help restore trust or address their concerns. “These are misguided children. It is our responsibility to show them the right path,” Modi said. “Punishing them, making them appear repeatedly in court or subjecting them to social humiliation will not solve the problem.” The protests erupted after the leak of national examination papers forced authorities to conduct a retest for nearly two million students, sparking widespread anger over transparency, fairness and employment opportunities for young people. The demonstrations quickly spread to several cities, including the capital, New Delhi, where clashes broke out between protesters and security personnel. Police used tear gas and baton charges to disperse crowds attempting to march toward Parliament, while authorities registered cases against hundreds of demonstrators following incidents of violence and anti-government slogans. The student-led movement, identifying itself as the Cockroach Janta Party, has claimed that hundreds of protesters were arrested across different states despite government assurances that police cases against demonstrators would be withdrawn. Following weeks of sustained protests, the government accepted the movement’s key demands, including reforms to the examination system and the resignation of the education minister. The demonstrations were subsequently called off. At the same time, the Modi government has moved to tighten laws against examination fraud by introducing new legislation in Parliament. The proposed bill seeks stricter punishments, including longer prison terms and heavier financial penalties, for individuals involved in leaking examination papers or manipulating public examinations. Political analysts say Modi’s latest remarks appear aimed at easing tensions and encouraging national reconciliation after weeks of unrest. However, they note that public confidence will ultimately depend on the government’s ability to implement meaningful reforms that ensure transparent examinations and restore trust among millions of students preparing for competitive tests across India.

  • | | |

    Pakistan’s debt growth falls to 20-year low: Fin…

    ByJustpaste.in

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Finance Ministry has reported a significant slowdown in the country’s debt growth, saying the rate of increase fell to its lowest level in two decades during fiscal year 2025-26. According to the ministry, Pakistan’s debt increased by only 7.7 per cent during 2025-26, compared with an average annual growth rate of around 16 per cent over the past 20 years. The ministry said the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio also improved, falling to 68.3 per cent from 75 per cent in fiscal year 2022-23. Between 2019 and 2021, the ratio had remained between 86 and 88 per cent. Pakistan’s external debt-to-GDP ratio also declined to 21.5 per cent, which the ministry described as the lowest level in nine years. The country’s foreign exchange reserves have meanwhile increased substantially, rising from $2.9 billion to $18.4 billion, according to the ministry. The Finance Ministry said Pakistan also repaid Rs4.72 trillion in debt ahead of schedule. It added that annual interest expenditure on government debt declined by nearly Rs2 trillion. The burden of interest payments on government revenue also fell sharply, from 61 per cent to 35 per cent, indicating an improvement in the government’s fiscal position. The ministry further said Pakistan has recorded a primary budget surplus for three consecutive years, reflecting continued efforts to strengthen fiscal management and control expenditure. Pakistan has also returned to international capital markets after a four-year gap. The country’s Panda Bond reportedly attracted demand nearly five times higher than the amount offered, indicating strong investor interest. The ministry also highlighted Pakistan’s improved credit outlook. S&P Global Ratings has maintained Pakistan’s rating at B with a stable outlook, with the ministry describing the current rating as the agency’s highest level for Pakistan in nearly nine years.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *