Police in Nong Khai have put in place security and traffic management plans to ensure public safety and facilitate traffic for people attending a ceremony to scatter the ashes of revered monk Luang Phor Koon Parisutho in the Mekong River next week.
Pol Col Kasem Mutaporn, superintendent of Muang police station, said the provincial police bureau has made necessary preparations ahead of the ceremony which will take place on Jan 30.
Following the royally-sponsored cremation on Tuesday at Buddhamonthon in Khon Kaen's Muang district, the monk's ashes will be scattered in the Mekong River in Nong Khai as he wished.
Pol Col Kasem said the road along the Mekong River will be closed from 8am to 2pm and 16 spots have been set aside as parking areas which can accommodate up to 2,000 vehicles.
The ashes will be placed in an urn at a marine station for his disciples to pay respects before being taken aboard a vessel for their scattering into the river.
Luang Phor Koon, a former abbot of Wat Ban Rai in Nakhon Ratchasima province's Dan Khun Thod district, died in 2015 at the age of 91. He donated his body to Khon Kaen University for its medical students to study.
It is estimated more than 50,000 people will turn up to pay their last respects at the funeral events.
