Sixteen sites are being set up to serve the needs of the huge number of people expected to visit the Grand Palace to pay homage before the body of the late King Bhumibol from Oct 28 onwards.
Jirachai Moonthongroy, permanent secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office, said on Friday that his office was working closely with the Royal Household Bureau and other agencies to help the crowds mourning the beloved King.
The Royal Household Bureau has given permission for the public to pay respects to the King in front of the royal urn inside the Grand Palace’s Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall from Oct 28, and a huge number of mourners are expected to avail themselves of the opportunity.
To facilitate this, authorities are arranging 16 venues in the vicinity of the Grand Palace to serve the visitors' needs.
Free food and drinking water will be available at those places, which will also have tents to shelter them from rain and the sun, toilets and mobile medical services. Portraits of His Majesty and books of condolence will also be available, Mr Jirachai said.
The 16 venues are - Sanam Luang, Silpakorn University, Thammasat University, Ratchaworadit Pier, the Territorial Defence Command, the National Theatre, Wat Phra Chetuphon (Wat Pho), Wat Mahathat Voraviharn, the Defence Ministry, the old headquarters of the Government Lottery Office, Satriwitthaya School, Wat Ratchanadda (the Loha Prasat), Saranrom Park, the Royal Turf Club in Nang Loeng area, the old office of the Supreme Court, and Royal Rattanakosin Hotel.
A total of 179,738 people had paid respect before the portrait of His Majesty at the Sala Sahathai Samakhom Pavilion inside the Grand Palace in six days from Oct 15 to Oct 20. Donations made by mourners during the period totalled 1.78 million baht, Thai media reported.