Thailand’s Office of the Insurance Commission (OIC) has mobilised efforts with insurance providers to facilitate compensation for the families of those killed and injured in a recent school bus fire.
The incident, which occurred during a school trip, claimed 23 lives – students and teachers from Wat Khao Praya Sangkharam School in Uthai Thani. Five additional individuals sustained injuries.
According to Bangkok Post’s report, the OIC is working to ensure that insurance benefits are properly distributed to the affected families. The commission confirmed that each family of the deceased will receive an initial payment of 660,000 baht.
The OIC’s review of the insurance policies covering the bus revealed that it was protected by a compulsory motor insurance policy provided by Viriyah Insurance, effective from April 30, 2023, to June 30, 2025.
The coverage includes compensation of up to 500,000 baht per person for death or permanent disability, while medical expenses are capped at 80,000 baht per person.
Compensation for organ loss varies between 200,000 and 500,000 baht per person, while payments for permanent disability are set at 300,000 baht. The policy also offers daily compensation of 200 baht for inpatient treatment, for up to 20 days.
In addition to the compulsory insurance, the bus was covered under a voluntary motor insurance policy, type 3, issued by Mittare Insurance Plc.
The policy, active from June 30, provides liability coverage for third-party life and injury claims up to 500,000 baht per person and a total of 10 million baht per incident. Property damage coverage under this policy is capped at 600,000 baht per incident.
The heirs of the deceased are entitled to receive payments under both the compulsory and voluntary insurance policies, with maximum payouts reaching 10 million baht per incident for each policy.
The school had also purchased group accident insurance for its students and staff through Viriyah Insurance, with coverage effective from May 15.
The policy includes a death benefit of 80,000 baht per person and covers medical expenses up to 8,000 baht per incident.
The OIC noted that many of the victims were from Uthai Thani, so the commission’s office in Pathum Thani has been in contact with the Uthai Thani office to help facilitate the compensation process.
For those who were injured and remain hospitalised, the OIC has coordinated with insurance companies to issue initial compensation of 30,000 baht per person for medical expenses, in accordance with compulsory motor insurance provisions.
The OIC is also working with the Thai Life Assurance Association and the Thai General Insurance Association to determine if the victims held any additional insurance policies.
It added that if other policies are identified, the victims or their families will receive all entitlements as specified in those insurance contracts.
Bangkok Post reported that Viriyah Insurance has affirmed its readiness to disburse compensation according to policy terms and has dispatched staff to support the families of the deceased and injured. The company is also working closely with hospitals to streamline the compensation process for the affected families.
