Samaritans mass near Palace

DESPITE the grief-stricken atmosphere following the death of Thailand’s beloved King, scores of people nationwide have arrived at Bangkok’s Sanam Luang to help facilitate the huge crowds paying respects to the beloved monarch.
Along the footpath circling Sanam Luang, a 74-rai (12-hectare) open field in front of the Grand Palace, there are volunteer doctors and nurses, dozens of food trucks, toilet buses, mobile-charging stations and a variety of service booths.
All goods and services sponsored by loyal individuals and public and private organisations are free. Some of the volunteer organisations said they would service the public for 100 days in tribute to the late King.
“I came here to contribute to the public as a doctor,” said dermatologist Saroj Suvanasuthi, who works at a private hospital in Bangkok. “In a wake of the King’s passing, my surroundings have become gloomy. I would like to take action and do something for others in tribute to the King, rather than stay in my house and post on Facebook. I love the King and will follow his lead.” 
Saroj, 39, said he decided to engage in the volunteer work immediately after earning the national Medicine Council had asked for physician volunteers to help with the mourning process.
“People come here to pay respects to the King. Many of them get sick because of the heat and the rain,” he said. “We see a wide range of symptoms including aches and pains, skin irritation, diarrhea, colds and even emergency cases,” said the doctor who is stationed at the Medical Council’s booth all day.
Along with the doctors and nurses, dozens of pharmacists and pharmaist students are also lending a helping hand, dispensing medicines to the sick. They include Kittikorn Masamran, a 24-year-old pharmacist student from Bangkok’s Srinakharinwirot University.
“I came here for the King and the people. My profession’s underlying principle teaches me to help the people. So, I come here to practice and utilise my class lessons to help the people. And above all, to pay tribute to the King,” said the volunteer student.
Due to high demand for medicine services, which a source put at about 30 cases an hour, hundreds of hospital staff are on standby between 8am and 10pm daily.
“We have to get prepared for both normal and emergency cases,” said nurse assistant Sweden Wandee, 40. “I don’t have any reason to come here but the King. Compared to what he has done for us, my contribution today is too little.” 
Also at the park is a booth where people can have clothes dyed back to mourn the King. The booth is run by the Department of Non-Formal Education which has natural-dying knowhow. 
People are expected to wear black during the long mourning period, but some people cannot afford to buy black attire.
The Ministry of Education has instructed the Department to dye clothes black for free, according to Woralak Siromakul, a 43-year-old teacher under the department.

Dyeing techniques
“Our service is free and also demonstrates how to dye clothes to the public, so that they can do it by themselves. We also provide dyeing-colour powder for free,” she added.
She said the booth would stay open until being told to close by the ministry.
Free food and drinks are also being provided. Dozens of food trucks and small kiosks are operating all day.
Both professional and amateur chefs and their helpers are pitching in.
“Many people come here to help each other because this is a once-in-a-lifetime event regarding the King. I feel warm to see how Thais help each other,” said Rungnapha Peta, 65.
Rungnapha spoke while queuing yesterday in a long line under a scorching sun for fried chicken from food truck with the logo “The Butcher Hot Dog”.
The modified pickup arrived at Sanam Luang at dawn yesterday, along with 30 food trucks under the “Food Truck Club Thailand” alliance.
“I closed my shop today [yesterday] to join others in cooking for the people. I am willing to come as I feel blessed and happy when I saw the people smile when eat what I cook for them,” said Pattaradom Daokrajang, a 34-year-old rice and curry food-truck owner.
People waiting in long queues for food and services smiled despite the heat.
Some volunteers promised to return to serve the public and more and more volunteers are continuing to flock to Sanam Luaung, according to a source from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).
A few hundred BMA staff have been tasked with keeping the field clean, the source said. 
“I believe they do it with their heart in tribute to the King,” she added.