Authorities have confiscated the remaining five buses owned by Shinbutr Tour after discovering that each was equipped with 11 gas tanks—well above the legal limit of six. This violation mirrors the recent incident involving a school bus fire that resulted in the deaths of 23 individuals, as reported by Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit.
The minister stated that the company failed to bring the buses in for inspection at the land transport office in Lop Buri on Thursday afternoon as mandated. Consequently, officials utilized GPS technology to track the vehicles to a garage in Nakhon Ratchasima.
Upon arrival, officials witnessed garage workers removing the gas tanks from the five buses, leading to their seizure. Minister Suriya clarified that a maximum of six gas tanks per bus is permitted.
Legal charges will be filed against the company and those involved in the unauthorized modifications, and authorities will assess whether the garage should face legal repercussions as well.
The company had been instructed to have the buses inspected following a tragic accident earlier this week that claimed the lives of 20 students and three teachers. A forensic police investigation into the ill-fated bus concluded that a gas leak was the cause of the blaze.
The bus was found to have 11 tanks containing compressed natural gas (CNG), and a loose fuel line—responsible for transporting gas from the tank to the engine—triggered the leak. Of the 11 CNG tanks, only six were registered, while the others were not.
Contrary to earlier reports, no evidence indicated that a front tire had exploded; however, the front-wheel shaft was damaged and exhibited signs of contact with the road surface. The source of the sparks that ignited the fire and the reason for the gas leak remain under investigation.
The Department of Land Transport (DLT) announced that it would inspect all 13,426 CNG vehicles across the country within the next 60 days.
Addressing concerns that other companies might have removed their illegal gas tanks before the scheduled inspections, Minister Suriya acknowledged that while the inspection process is time-consuming, there should still be indications of tampering.
In related news, a joint House-Senate committee on transport is set to convene on October 25 to discuss safety measures intended to avert similar incidents and enhance road safety for students and the public.
Nikorn Chamnong, a committee member, expressed optimism that the upcoming meeting would yield productive discussions and result in significant improvements in transport safety.
Chuan Leekpai, a Democrat MP for Trang, described the school bus fire as one of the country’s most severe safety failures, emphasizing that it should serve as a wake-up call for all parties to address safety violations. He stated that while educational outings organized by schools should continue, safety must always take precedence.
