Transport
Villagers Carry Bedridden Elderly Woman Nine Kilometers for Bank Visit
A community in Sangkhla Buri mobilized to transport a 90-year-old bedridden woman over nine kilometers through rain to resolve a banking issue.
On September 14, 2026, a group of villagers, local leaders, forest fire officials, and health volunteers in Koh Sadoeng village collaborated to assist 90-year-old Seapuay Thongphachangon, who is bedridden, in reaching a bank. According to a report by Khaosod Online, the community members placed the elderly woman on a stretcher and carried her for approximately nine kilometers through continuous rain to reach Kong Mong Tha village, where a vehicle was waiting to transport her to a Krung Thai Bank branch in the Sangkhla Buri district center.
The arduous journey was necessitated by a technical issue with the woman's ATM card, which prevented her from performing financial transactions. Because the bank required her physical presence to resolve the matter, the community organized the transport to ensure she could access her funds.
For residents and travelers, this incident highlights the significant logistical challenges faced by remote communities in mountainous regions of Thailand, particularly regarding access to essential services like banking. While the community's collective effort successfully facilitated the trip, the incident underscores the difficulties of infrastructure and accessibility in rural areas. It remains to be confirmed whether local authorities will implement mobile banking services or alternative verification methods to prevent such extreme measures for elderly residents in the future.