Post by : Meena Ariff

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has filed both criminal and civil lawsuits against Italian-Thai Development (ITD) following a fatal crane collapse at the high-speed rail construction site in Si Khiew, Nakhon Ratchasima. The crane, part of the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project, toppled onto a passing train on January 14, 2026, causing multiple deaths and injuries.

In response, the government has taken swift action. Deputy  Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, has ordered a fact-finding committee to review safety standards at the construction site and identify the cause of the accident. The committee is expected to submit its findings within 15 days.

The SRT and ITD will provide compensation to those affected. Families of the deceased will receive 1.34 million THB each, while injured passengers will have all medical expenses covered until full recovery. Additional claims, including property damage or lost goods, can be submitted for review.

Acting SRT Governor Anan Phonimdang stressed that both ITD and the SRT must adhere strictly to safety regulations in all ongoing projects. Contractors are required to coordinate with station managers and halt work when trains pass through construction zones to prevent accidents.

The SRT has already moved the affected train carriages off the tracks and will begin removing the damaged crane. Repairs to the rail line are expected to take about seven days. To prevent future incidents, SRT plans to install sensors and CCTV surveillance at construction sites for improved safety monitoring.

Legally, the SRT has filed a criminal case over the fatalities and a civil case for damages caused by the incident, including harm to public property and reputational losses. Additional legal steps will be determined based on the investigation’s results.

The incident has raised urgent questions about construction safety standards, prompting calls for stricter enforcement and improved oversight across Thailand’s high-speed rail projects.

#Global News #Thailand News