A 32-year-old Myanmar worker, identified as Nim, tragically died after being electrocuted while cleaning the exterior of a five-storey commercial building in Bangkok’s Bang Kho Laem district. The incident occurred at 1 p.m. on January 25, with emergency responders promptly arriving at the scene.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Nattawut Rodsoongnoen from Wat Phraya Krai Police Station led the investigation at the site in Soi Rama 3, Bang Khlo subdistrict. He was joined by forensic doctors from Chulalongkorn Hospital, volunteers from the Poh Teck Tung Foundation, and officials from the Metropolitan Electricity Authority.
The accident scene revealed ropes and a seat used for cleaning work hanging near the building’s third floor, along with visible burn marks. Nim’s body was discovered below with burn injuries on his right foot.
Pan, a 38-year-old co-worker and relative of Nim, recounted the sequence of events. He explained that a team of five workers had been hired to clean the building’s walls. While Pan stayed on the ground, the others descended the building using ropes. Pan reported hearing a loud explosion before witnessing Nim being electrocuted and falling to the ground.
Despite attempts to perform CPR and the quick arrival of medical assistance, Nim was pronounced dead at the scene. Preliminary investigations suggest Nim may have accidentally touched a high-voltage 20,000-volt electric line while descending, resulting in the fatal electric shock.
The police have arranged for an autopsy at Chulalongkorn Hospital and have informed Nim’s family for funeral arrangements. Safety concerns are likely to be investigated further to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In a related case, a man in Udon Thani died attempting to steal high-voltage power cables, suffering a fatal electrocution after falling from a height of 10 metres. These incidents underline the dangers of electrical work and the importance of stringent safety protocols.