Safety
Flooding at Ban Phai Railway Underpasses Causes Vehicle Stalls
Heavy rains have caused severe flooding at two railway underpasses in Khon Kaen, leading to vehicle stalls and prompting local authorities to install warning signs.
On September 8, 2026, a pickup truck stalled after attempting to drive through a flooded railway underpass in Ban Phai District, Khon Kaen Province. According to reports from Khaosod Online, the water level at the Nong Waeng Rai-Sun Mi Chai underpass exceeded 1.20 meters, causing the vehicle to stall and subsequently fill with water.
Local residents have suggested that the flooding was exacerbated by the theft of electrical cables, which rendered the tunnel's water pumping system inoperable. Following the incident, the Ban Phai Subdistrict Administrative Organization installed warning signs prohibiting passage at the site, as water levels remain at approximately one meter due to ongoing rainfall.
There are currently two affected underpasses in the area: the Nong Waeng Rai underpass and the site near the Ban Thang Phad-Ban Nong Waeng Ong school. Authorities are currently coordinating efforts to drain the tunnels. For residents and travelers in the Ban Phai area, these locations pose a significant safety risk. It remains to be confirmed when the pumping systems will be fully restored and when the underpasses will be cleared for safe passage. Motorists are advised to avoid these routes and heed all posted warning signs until further notice.
