First-day crowd huge as mourners allowed in Throne Hall (Updated)

Black-clad mourners from all walks of life began streaming into the Grand Palace early Saturday to pay their respects before the body of King Bhumibol in the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall. (Now with video)

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Sunday afternoon update

From our Post reporters:

The government has abandoned the queuing system for members of the public paying their respects before the body of His Majesty the late King after being overwhelmed by the number of mourners.

After planning to issue a daily quota of 10,000 queue tickets, authorities instead allowed mourners to enter the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall inside the Grand Palace in groups of 70 at a time.

Video by Jiraporn Kuhakarn

Huge crowds of black-clad mourners streamed into Bangkok from across the country as the public was granted its first chance to enter the throne hall on Saturday.

Col Piyapong Klinpan, a spokesman for the National Council for Peace and Order, said the turnout was estimated at more than 20,000 on Saturday.

Sunday morning story

Huge crowds of mourners stream into Grand Palace

Pongpat Wongyala, Prasit Trangprasert and Saichon Srinuanjan

Black-clad mourners from all walks of life began streaming into the Grand Palace early Saturday to pay their respects before the body of King Bhumibol in the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall.

Crowds were also pouring into the capital from provinces around the country as the public was granted its first chance to enter the throne hall where the body of the late King is lying in state.

For the previous two weeks, the public had been allowed to pay their respects before a portrait of their beloved monarch, who passed away on Oct 13.

At Sanam Luang, people formed long queues at Gate 8 opposite the old Supreme Court building on Rajadamnoen Nai Avenue to obtain queue cards from the 200 cadet students from all armed forces deployed to take care of mourners.

"I have been waiting here since 1am," said Saman Daoruang, an 84-year-old sitting in a massive queue that snaked around the large field outside the palace.

Like many in the crowd, Mr Saman had slept under a tent on the grassy grounds after arriving in Bangkok by train from Nakhon Sawan province.

"But I haven't been able to sleep because I was so thrilled and proud to come here," he told AFP, clutching several portraits of the monarch.

The Royal Household Bureau will allow 10,000 mourners to enter the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall each day from 8am to 9pm.

As so many people kept coming to Sanam Luang on Saturday, and many had camped out overnight, the Bureau allowed mourners to enter the throne hall starting from 5am.

In Pathum Thani, people dressed in black formed queues to take free public buses in front of the Rangsit municipality office.

Provincial authorities have arranged free buses from 6am to 7pm every day. Meals and beverages were provided for free for mourners at the departure spot. Shelters, bathrooms and parking areas were also arranged.

In Nakhon Ratchasima, mourners thronged the second bus terminal early Saturday morning to buy tickets for interprovincial buses to Bangkok. Transport is free for those who register to go to the Grand Palace.

Prasanti Khaoplod, head of the terminal, said the state-run Transport Co had prepared 17 air-conditioned buses for mourners who wish to travel to the capital this coming Wednesday. The buses will be parked in front of the provincial hall to offer free rides from 4am.

There will be six free bus trips in all to the Grand Palace, with the second one scheduled for Nov 6, said Mr Prasanti. Authorities will later notify people about the dates for the other trips.

In Ratchaburi, provincial police and Police Region 7 are jointly providing shuttle van services free of charge until Nov 29.

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