Florists come together with white flowers to honour victims of bus inferno

A local florist in Uthai Thani province posted on his social network yesterday, calling for donations of white flowers to decorate the funerals of the victims, mostly schoolchildren, from the bus inferno.

However, he closed the campaign three hours later, saying he received more flowers than needed from many provinces, including Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, and even Chiang Mai.

Chavalit Waikasikorn said that the flowers were sent from those places to his shop yesterday and today, so he has enough white flowers to decorate the funerals for the victims of the bus fire in Pathum Thani province on Tuesday.

Photo: Chavalit Waikasikorn



“I asked for donations of white flowers for the funeral, knowing that I would not have enough for all the victims. However, just three hours later, I had to close the campaign as donations of flowers poured in more than I had imagined,” he said.

White flowers were chosen as they symbolise purity and innocence, considering that most of the victims were children aged between 9 and 14.

Twenty-three passengers of the doomed coach, comprising 20 schoolchildren and three teachers, perished when a fire engulfed the vehicle in an accident on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.

All but one victim were identified, and their bodies were returned to their home province last night. The funeral was held at their school, Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam School, in Uthai Thani’s Lan Sak district.

Chavalit added that not only the flowers but also many people have volunteered to help organize the funeral. Flower decorators have traveled from Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Chonburi, and Chainat.

Last night, when the remains of the victims arrived at the school, their families, friends, and provincial officials were present to receive the remains in a somber atmosphere.

A religious ceremony which will be held at 8pm tonight and presided Privy Councillor president Gen Surayud Chulanont. A royally sponsored funeral is set for next Tuesday.