Thousands take to the roads for a long Songkran holiday

The festival got an extension when the government declared yesterday a national holiday in the face of ongoing redshirt protests, which have blocked some roads in the heart of the capital since Thursday.

Most people will return to work again on April 16.

Transport Company president Wuttichart Kalayanamitr said as many as about 270,000 passengers had departed Bangkok yesterday from the Mor Chit II Bus Terminal.

"We have adjusted our schedule to ensure maximum convenience," he said.

The Transport Company is ready to answer any question about bus services on Hotline 1490 round the clock.

Traffic has already slowed down on many main roads out of Bangkok as large numbers of people hit the roads at the same time.

Over Songkran motorway access will be free at four main gates: Lat Krabang, Thap Chang, Phan Thong and Thanaburi.

They will suspend toll collection until noon on Thursday.

Highways Department directorgeneral Supoj Saplom expects the number of vehicles on motorways to be well over 290,000 each day during the holidays.

Motorists who need assistance while on the road can call Hotline 1586.

In Nakhon Ratchasima, about 3,700 policemen will direct traffic and man checkpoints.

Nakhon Ratchasima is the gateway to the Northeast.

A survey by Bangkok University found that 37.4 per cent of respondents were worried about road casualties during Songkran and 21.4 per cent of others were concerned about traffic jams.

Only 14.8 per cent were disturbed by political conflicts.

The survey was conducted among 982 respondents between April 7 and April 8, one day before the redshirted protest spilled onto many roads.

Despite the protest, Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday remained confident that Songkran would attract a huge number of tourists to the capital.

This year the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will kick off Songkran activities tomorrow.

"One of the highlights will be the procession of floral vehicles," Sukhumbhand said.

Other activities include concerts, a food fair and the celebration of Songkran in four local styles.

"The fourday event should attract about 400,000 tourists with a cash flow of more than Bt800 million," the city governor said.

Meanwhile, authorities are calling on Songkran vacationers to strictly heed safety warnings when relaxing around waterfalls.

As heavy downpours still continue in many areas, a risk of flash floods at waterfalls is great.

However, the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department has already prepared measures to boost safety standards.

"We are going to deploy more officials at tourist spots. When water turns reddish, the officials must immediately evacuate vacationers," department directorgeneral Kasemsun Chinnavaso said, adding that warning signs would go up at danger points.

"We will keep lifesaving tools handy," Kasemsun said.

He expects a number of vacationers to visit waterfalls inside national parks during the holidays.

Kasemsun disclosed that his department had planned to put up signs saying how many holidaymakers had died at a particular waterfall or cliff.

"However, local authorities disagreed. They thought that would just scare people away," he said.

Jintana Boonchern, who heads Jed Sao Noi National Park, said 12 people had lost their lives at the Jed Sao Noi Waterfall since 2003.

"It has seven levels and is three metres deep in places," Jintana said, noting that there were whirlpools too.

She said her park had now erected warning signs at all danger points.

"There are life jackets and life buoys available too," she added.

Jintana said officials regularly monitored water level.