Thai New Year celebrations spawn road accidents

[Luba]

from CNews:

BANGKOK, Thailand - At least 30 people died and 314 were injured in road accidents as often riotous, drunken celebrations of Thai New Year enterd their second day Saturday, officials said.

Many Thais return to their families in the countryside for the festival, known as Songkran, jamming highways as they leave Bangkok and other major cities. Songkran formally runs from April 13 - 15 but many Thais start celebrating the weekend before and continue through the weekend after.

At least 286 accidents were reported since midnight Friday, said Chief of the Department of Disaster Prevention.

Last year, a total of 522 people died and 16,395 were injured during the 10-day holiday period.

Songkran - an ancient rite meant to guarantee ample water for next season's crops - has evolved from a time when families gathered in monasteries and the young poured water over the palms of elders into and event where hundreds of intoxicated revellers die on the roads and high-powered water hoses are turned on everyone who moves on city streets.

[Vautrin]

Songkran - an ancient rite meant to guarantee ample water for next season's crops - has evolved from a time when families gathered in monasteries and the young poured water over the palms of elders into and event where hundreds of intoxicated revellers die on the roads and high-powered water hoses are turned on everyone who moves on city streets.

I guess the Russians are good at exporting water. Or at least little waters ;-).

[Merika]

I don't know what to say. I pretty much think most of the people in the world are crazy anyway.