Chaliang khok: Five people in quick succession have died in Chaliang Khok village, Khon Buri district, Nakhon Ratchasima province. The last victim recounted a strange dream in which a bus driver came to pick him up.
According to Thai News Agency, in Ban Chaliang Khok, Moo 2, Chaliang Subdistrict, Khon Buri District, an incredible coincidence occurred: five people died in a row each day, to the point that the village temple's crematorium was almost constantly busy. This led to villagers gathering to discuss and speculate about the situation.
Mr. Suriya Rueangkratok, the village headman of Chaliang Khok Village, Moo 2, is assisting with the cremation of Mr. Sunan, 78 years old, at Wat Tha Sila Asan, the village temple. Mr. Sunan died from an infected wound. Another villager from the same village is also awaiting cremation at the adjacent pavilion.
Mr. Suriya recounted that during the recent Songkran festival, several people in the village fell ill with various diseases. The villagers therefore agreed that a large merit-making ceremony should be held for the village to alleviate their suffering and hopefully reduce the severity of the illnesses. However, five people subsequently died on a daily basis.
The first case was Mrs. Sakorn, 68 years old, who died of sudden kidney failure on August 28th. Her family held a funeral service at this temple and cremated her on Monday, August 31st. However, during the funeral service, on August 29th, Mrs. Sailay, 63 years old, also died of cancer. Her body was brought to the temple for the next funeral service, awaiting cremation on September 1st. However, Mrs. Sakorn, the first deceased, had not yet been cremated.
On August 30th, Mr. Charin, 63, also passed away from cancer, becoming the third death. His cremation is scheduled for September 2nd. On the same day as the cremation of Mrs. Sakorn, the first victim, Mr. Sunan, 78, also died from an infected wound. His cremation is scheduled for today (September 3rd). Counting these, there have been four deaths in a row. Just one day after September 1st, Mrs. Saengiam, 72, also died from cancer on September 2nd, becoming the fifth victim. Her body is being held at the same temple as Mr. Charin's cremation. Mrs. Saengiam, the fifth victim, will be cremated tomorrow (September 4th).
Mr. Suriya said that some of the deceased had told their relatives before their deaths that a bus driver with a full load of passengers had come to pick them up, and that they had boarded that bus. However, their children called out to them, so they got off the bus and woke up, but ultimately passed away. The deaths of five villagers in quick succession, while no one suspected foul play as most understood that they died from pre-existing conditions or other illnesses, are almost unbelievable given the daily occurrences.
After the funerals for all five victims are completed, community leaders will consult to prepare for a large merit-making ceremony for the village and sub-district. This is to bring peace of mind to the villagers, as this is the first time such a large number of people have died in the same village in quick succession.