Two Close Friends Mourned Together After Beer Hall Fire
Two coworkers who died in the Ladprao beer hall fire were honored at a joint funeral service in Pathum Thani, with their families citing an unbreakable friendship and their employer covering all expenses.
Two close friends and coworkers who perished in the Ladprao beer hall fire have been honored with a joint funeral service, even though they came from different provinces. On July 14, relatives gathered to receive the bodies of Ms. Kachaporn Sotharatana, 40, and Ms. Phanichcha Singkhon (nicknamed Nim), 49, at the Police Hospital's forensic institute. The two families decided to hold a combined merit-making ceremony at Wat Keatkaudom in Pathum Thani province because of the women's close friendship, their work at the same company, and their employer's decision to cover all expenses.
Ms. Jareunee, a relative of Ms. Kachaporn, explained that the two victims did everything together—sharing meals, commuting, and spending their daily lives inseparably. Colleagues witnessed the depth of their bond, and their employer's financial support eliminated the need to transport the bodies to the victims' home province of Roi Et, which would have incurred significant costs. The family has not blamed anyone for the tragedy, believing it resulted from multiple contributing factors.
Ms. Kachaporn was a single mother who served as the family's sole breadwinner and also cared for her disabled brother. Her 20-year-old daughter, Ms. Natthachicha, a student at Mahasarakham University, tearfully stated she would continue her studies to fulfill her mother's wishes. Ms. Phanichcha's brother-in-law, Mr. Rattanasak, 49, described the loss as devastating and unprecedented for their family. Before the fire, multiple family members reported having bad premonitions and similar nightmares—an unusual occurrence that now haunts them. Ms. Phanichcha's 15-year-old son discovered the tragedy by finding news reports online when his mother failed to return home that morning. Their employer, Ms. Yalphatch Wasikarn, owner of Sexy Lace Health and Wellness Company, wept while speaking about the loss of her two valued employees.
