282 killed during Songkran fest in Thailand

At least 282 people were killed and 3,059 others injured in road accidents during the first six days of Songkran festival,the Thai New Year,authorities here said.

Most Thais go to their native villages and provinces to celebrate Songkran or water festival akin to Holi. The revel lets throw buckets of ice water on passerbys and smear them with talcum powder.

The festival also sees a spike in alcohol consumption.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said 282 people were killed in a total of 2,872 road accidents over six days of the “seven dangerous days” of the Songkran holidays.

Drunk driving and speeding were main causes of the road accidents,it said.