191 Road Deaths in 3 Days

Thailand's annual Songkran water festival has been marred by a tragic toll of road accidents. Over a three-day period, 191 people have died in 951 road accidents across the country. Additionally, 911 individuals sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment. The Songkran festival, which began on April 13th and has been ongoing for four days, marks the Thai New Year. Celebrated annually around April 9th, Songkran shares linguistic roots with India's Sankranti and is a significant New Year observance for many communities in Southeast Asia. This traditional festival involves religious ceremonies, cultural dances, music, and feasts. A key ritual sees people splashing water on each other, symbolizing the washing away of the old and welcoming new beginnings. Similar to Tamil New Year celebrations, Thai people visit temples during Songkran.