Kanchanaburi villagers carry elderly woman 9km to bank

In a remote village in Kanchanaburi province, a group of villagers and local volunteers embarked on a nine-kilometre journey through heavy rain to help an elderly, bedridden resident access a bank. This trek took place on September 14, after her ATM card stopped working and she needed to verify her identity in person to claim monthly deposits for her living and care expenses.

The group included village leaders, community security volunteers, wildfire officers, village health volunteers, and other residents. They carried the woman on a stretcher from the village, Sangkhla Buri district near the Thai-Myanmar border, towards Ban Kong Mong Tha. They covered the distance on foot before reaching a point where a vehicle could be used. She was then driven to Sangkhla Buri to visit a Krungthai Bank branch.

The village is located in a remote part of Kanchanaburi, inside the Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary. Access to the community is limited to motorcycles due to its location in the western section of the sanctuary. During heavy rain and flooding, even motorcycles may struggle to traverse the route, making essential services difficult to reach. Residents who need medical treatment or other crucial services often face long journeys on foot before encountering a road suitable for vehicles.

The group's efforts to carry the elderly woman garnered praise from the community, but also brought attention to the need for government agencies and service providers to consider mobile or alternative methods of support for remote communities. This was especially important for elderly and bedridden residents who might otherwise need to endure challenging travels for routine banking or administrative tasks.