Bangkok: Bangkok recently held a merit-making ceremony to honor the missing persons who died in the collapse of the State Audit Office building. The event featured an almsgiving ceremony for monks and chanting to dedicate merit to the deceased. The State Audit Office Governor was among those present at the ceremony.
According to Thai News Agency, the ceremony took place on May 13, 2015, at the construction site of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) in Bangkok. It featured an alms-giving ceremony for 109 monks and a Buddhist prayer ceremony. Somdej Phra Maha Thirajarn, the abbot of Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimonmangklararm Ratchaworamahawihan, led the monks in dedicating merit to the missing persons who perished in the building collapse. Presiding over the ceremony was Mr. Chadchart Sittipunt, the Governor of Bangkok, along with other notable attendees, including Assoc. Prof. Thawida Kamolvech, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, Mr. Suriyachai Rawiwan, Director of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office of Bangkok, rescue volunteers, and those involved in the 45-day operation. Mr. Montien Charoenphol, the Auditor General, was also in attendance.
Following the ceremony, all working teams, including rescue units, the team from the Bangkok Governor's Command Center, the Director of the Bangkok Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, the K9 rescue dog team, and others involved, observed a moment of silence in memory of the victims and all the deceased.
Later, a meeting was held at the JJ command center to officially announce the results of the search mission. An official summary announcement was scheduled for 11:30 a.m., prior to the area being returned to the Office of the Auditor General.