Daily quota of 10,000, open from Sat onward

About 10,000 people a day will be allowed to pay respects before His Majesty the King's body in the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace starting this Saturday.

According to the Royal Household Bureau, Friday is the last day in which mourners can pay their respects before a portrait of His Majesty and sign condolence books at Sahathai Samakhom Pavillion.

Starting Saturday, mourners will be allowed to pay respects before the late monarch's urn from from 8am to 9pm in the throne hall, except during royal merit-making ceremonies, the bureau said.

Authorities are gearing up for huge crowds to pay their respects to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in the throne hall. Access will be allowed after a 15-day merit-making ceremony is completed this Friday.

Earlier report: Throne Hall open to public on Saturday

The Royal Household Bureau has also advised mourners to dress entirely in black for the occasion.

Women must wear dresses or skirts that extend below the knees and are advised to wear stockings. No denim, sleeveless or revealing outfits are allowed.

Men are asked to refrain from denim and T-shirts. Black ties are advised. No flip-flops are allowed.

Pongsawat Phanjit, deputy commander of the First Army Region assigned to oversee Sanam Luang and the adjacent area outside the Grand Palace, said preparations were under way to accommodate mourners.

He said the throne hall will be opened at intervals because royal rites are also scheduled to take place.

The venue is expected to accommodate about 10,000 mourners a day and the joint Peace and Order Administration Centre is working to ensure order and efficiency.

For a larger, full-colour version of the photo above, click here.

About 35,000 to 40,000 mourners have arrived each day to pay respects to the late King before his portrait at Sahathai Samakhom Pavillion.

Maj Gen Pongsawat said those who travel with children should put name cards on their children in case they get lost and the elderly are asked to wear name tags and bring necessary medication if they have health conditions.

Winthai Suvaree, the army's spokesman, said a second Bailey bridge across Khlong Lord behind the Defence Ministry is finished and will provide additional access to the Grand Palace.

He said authorities are considering asking those who want to donate food and drinks to register at a distribution centre to better manage supplies.

He stressed that delivery of food and beverages and other items needs to be better managed to ease traffic jams.

Thammsat University has set up a team to help with management.

Prime Minister's Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana, secretary of the joint Peace and Order Administration Centre, said he had asked the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority to provide more shuttle buses to serve mourners.

The Marine Department, the Marine Police and the Royal Thai Navy were also asked to provide more passenger boats.

The administration centre will meet tomorrow to discuss preparations for mourners arriving from outside Bangkok, he said, noting the Interior Ministry is working to help people without resources to pay for their journey.

Permanent secretary for the Interior Ministry Grisada Boonrach said the ministry is making plans to accommodate mourners from other provinces who want to pay respects to the late King.

He said the ministry can make arrangements for 3,000 people on a daily basis and provincial authorities are instructed to provide guidelines regarding the wearing of appropriate clothing.

According to the Interior Ministry, from Oct 14 to Sunday, a total of 2.94 million people outside Bangkok took part in activities held in honour of the late King.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau said about 980,000 mourners visited the Grand Palace and Sanam Luang in the same period.

About 120,000 people were at Sanam Luang on Oct 14 when the body of the late King was brought from Siriraj Hospital to the Grand Palace.

The crowds at Sanam Luang peaked on Saturday with an estimated 200,000 people arrived for the singing of the Royal Anthem.

Source:
courtesy of BANGKOK POST

by BANGKOK POST

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