Thais travel to pay respects to late King

BANGKOK, Oct 30 (TNA) – Thai mourners from across the country flocked to Bangkok in order to pay respects before the royal urn of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. In Phichit province, a number of local people reportedly opted to take railway services for their journey to Bangkok. Most of the travellers left their hometowns in the early morning, so they would arrive in time to enter the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the afternoon. In Nonthaburi, adjacent to Bangkok, some 30 passenger vans and pickups offer free transportation services on a direct route to Sanam Luang. Free services will be available every weekend. The public was granted its first chance to enter the throne hall and pay respects before the royal urn on Oct 29. The authorities expected to receive 10,000 visitors per day, but the quota was expanded later after being overwhelmed by the number of mourners. Previously, the mourners were only allowed to pay respects in front of a portrait of the king at the palace after the king died on Oct 13. (TNA)