death toll bangkok

Death Toll In Bangkok Rong Beer Na Fire Reaches 37

ByJustpaste.in

BANGKOK, Thailand — The death toll from the devastating fire at the Rong Beer Na Ladprao entertainment venue in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district has risen to 37, following the death of a performing band member. Thitiwat “Din” Kaewkanha, a 27-year-old singer with the Tossakan band, succumbed to severe injuries at Rajavithi Hospital and after other injured victims succumbed to her injuries on Wednesday, adding to the tragic toll of the Sunday night blaze.

Death Toll In Bangkok Chatuchak Pub Blaze Rises To 30

The Chatuchak district office confirmed that all fatalities have now been formally identified, a group that includes six individuals who had previously been reported as critically injured. The Tossakan band was actively performing when the fire erupted, resulting in the immediate deaths of a female singer and a keyboard player at the scene. The band’s drummer and Mr. Kaewkanha later died from their injuries, while two other band members, including the group’s leader, survived but sustained injuries.

Preliminary investigations by authorities indicate that the inferno was likely sparked by an electrical short circuit in a ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit. The blaze rapidly escalated when highly combustible materials, which had been installed on the stage to improve acoustics, instantly ignited. This generated extreme heat, dense smoke, and lethal toxins that quickly overwhelmed the trapped patrons.

Bangkok Police Chief Pol Lt Gen Sayam Boonsom revealed that autopsies confirmed the victims died primarily from the inhalation of toxic gases. Forensic examinations detected significant traces of carbon monoxide and cyanide in the victims’ systems, compounds that block tissues from receiving oxygen and can prove fatal within a matter of minutes.

Further scrutiny has uncovered potential regulatory violations regarding the venue’s infrastructure. Information from the Metropolitan Electricity Authority suggests that the beer hall operator may have modified the electrical system without obtaining the necessary permissions, a factor that could have led to system overloading and the subsequent short circuit. Records indicate that the operator had previously requested an increase in power supply from a 30 to 100-amp capacity but declined a mandatory pre-approval inspection by MEA technicians. Compounding these concerns, a musician who had previously performed at the pub noted that frequent brownouts were a recurring issue at the venue prior to the disaster.

Reports from survivors alleging that a fire exit was locked during the evacuation are currently being verified by forensic police. Building safety experts have also noted that the single-story hall, which had a capacity of 700 people, lacked the mandatory safety systems required for hosting large crowds and live music events. The venue’s owner, who was admitted to intensive care immediately following the fire and remains on a respirator, is expected to face severe criminal charges, including recklessness causing death and injury, arson, and unauthorized building modification, once his condition permits questioning.

Deadly Fire At Bangkok Pub Kills At Least 27, Injures Dozens

In the wake of this catastrophic event, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has pledged a comprehensive review of Thailand’s entertainment venue laws and zoning regulations. To prevent future tragedies, the government has mandated nationwide safety inspections of all entertainment venues and public buildings, ordering that these assessments be completed within 30 days as part of a broader, urgent effort to strengthen public safety standards across the country.

-Thailand News (TN)

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    Islamabad: A controversy has emerged over the recruitment process of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) after the Wafaqi Mohtasib declared that the selection process for senior academic positions lacked transparency and directed the university to cancel appointments and repeat the process. The decision came after a complaint filed by a female complainant, who challenged her exclusion from the shortlist for Professor and Associate Professor positions despite claiming she met the required eligibility criteria. The Wafaqi Mohtasib, after reviewing documents and hearing both sides, concluded that maladministration was established and stated that serious questions were raised about the transparency of the selection process. The Ombudsman referred the matter to the Vice Chancellor of AIOU with directions to cancel the appointments and conduct the recruitment process again according to proper procedures. The controversy relates to faculty recruitment advertisements issued by AIOU for Professor and Associate Professor positions. According to the findings, AIOU advertised several academic positions on 15 September 2024, and received a large number of applications. Officials informed that 388 applications were received for 25 advertised Professor and Associate Professor positions. The university introduced an Internal Assessment Framework to shortlist candidates before sending applications for further evaluation. According to AIOU, the decision was taken because evaluating hundreds of academic files through experts would create major financial and administrative difficulties. Officials estimated that external evaluation of dossiers could cost around Rs26 million. Under the new system, eligible candidates were assessed through multiple stages including vision statement, leadership assessment, psychological assessment, teaching demonstration and screening interview. The assessment was conducted out of 50 marks, and 24 candidates were recommended for further selection stages. However, the female complainant was not recommended for any position. The female complainant challenged the process, arguing that the university changed recruitment procedures after the hiring process had already started. She claimed that according to the original recruitment rules, eligible candidates were required to appear before the Selection Board and that the introduction of an Internal Assessment as an elimination stage had no legal basis. She also argued that she was not properly informed about all stages of the assessment process. The complainant stated that she was informed about teaching demonstration and leadership assessment but was not informed about psychological assessment and screening interview. The complaint also raised concerns over fair hearing rights, claiming that she was excluded from the final process without written reasons or an opportunity to explain her position. Another serious issue raised was the timing of the Selection Board meeting. The complainant claimed that the Selection Board meeting took place on 10 April 2026, a public holiday, and that the approval process and appointment letters were completed unusually quickly on the same day. She questioned whether the process was properly transparent. She argued that recruitment rules and selection criteria should not be changed after the recruitment process has started. The Ombudsman examined the matter and found that the selection process did not appear transparent. The findings stated that several questions raised by the complainant required attention and that the recruitment process showed signs of maladministration. AIOU officials had defended the process, saying the Internal Assessment Framework was approved by the university’s Executive Council and applied to the advertised positions. They said the system was designed to identify the most competitive candidates while reducing time and financial burden. The case now requires AIOU to report compliance with the Ombudsman’s decision within the given period. The controversy has raised broader questions about transparency, fairness and recruitment procedures in public sector universities, where senior academic appointments directly affect the quality of education.

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