In the year 2025, 253 people lost their lives during Songkran.
191 people died and 911 were injured during Thailand’s Songkran Festival. Most deaths have occurred in Bangkok. This year this festival was celebrated between 13 and 15 April. The festival is also known as the world’s biggest water fight. The biggest causes of death at the festival were said to be speeding and not wearing a helmet. Most of the accidents occurred between 3 pm and 6 pm.
Every year figures of deaths come out during this festival. Talking about last year, in the year 2025, 253 people had lost their lives during Songkran. Now the question is what is Songkran Festival, why is it celebrated and why deaths increase despite all administrative restrictions.
What is Songkran Festival?
Songkran is a famous festival of Thailand, it is celebrated as Thai New Year. In this festival people pour water on each other. Just as Holi is a festival of colors, similarly Songkran is a festival of water. During this period, the number of foreign tourists also increases. During this time, the crowd in big cities of Thailand increases as people reach their home provinces with their families.
Thailand’s Buddhist New Year erupts in Songkran soak-fest: Millions battle misfortune in Land of Smiles with mega water fight pic.twitter.com/16CEqgsmp6
— RT (@RT_com) April 14, 2025
Why do you add water?
The tradition of pouring water in Thailand is not just for fun. It is believed that pouring water on Thai New Year removes the effects of bad karma. Negativity goes away. This is also a day to respect elders. On this day, people pour water on the hands of their parents and elders and take blessings. It is also a way of showing respect and gratitude.
Songkran photo.
Why didn’t the accidents stop?
This is not the first time that the death toll has reached this level. Every year the number of deaths increases during the festival. This year also the Government of Thailand had launched road safety campaigns. People were warned by putting up posters at various places. It was said not to drive while intoxicated. Police check points were increased. Despite this, there was not much reduction in the number of deaths. Official figures show that 51 people died on the very first day of the festival.
This year, people participated in the Songkran Festival wearing Trump masks.
Over-speeding emerged as the leading cause of deaths, accounting for about 42 per cent of cases, followed by drink-driving with 27.4 per cent of cases. Officials also cited not wearing helmet as a major reason. The Disaster Prevention Department says, most of the accidents occurred between 3 pm and 6 pm.
Photo of Songkran Festival.
It is called ‘seven dangerous days’
There is mass travel across Thailand during Songkran, with millions of people returning to their hometowns from big cities like Bangkok, leading to road congestion and an increased risk of accidents. This festival period is often called the “seven dangerous days” due to the huge increase in road accidents.
Road accident statistics show that there are an average of 38 road accident deaths per day in Thailand throughout the year, reflecting a spike in deaths during Songkran.
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