An undertaker in Chonburi province was forced to take a coffin containing a deceased person to a service station to prove his need to purchase diesel for a cremation, after the station refused to sell fuel in containers as part of anti-hoarding measures.
The undertaker, identified only as Preecha, said he had recently taken an 18-litre container to a station on Highway 344 in Ban Bueng municipality to buy diesel. However, staff told him they could not sell fuel in containers at this time due to restrictions aimed at preventing hoarding.
They insisted on following the rules despite his explanation that the fuel was needed for cremations, most of which involve low-income families who rely on donations to cover fuel costs.
He returned to the same station the following morning, bringing with him the coffin containing the deceased’s body and the fuel containers to prove that he had no intention of hoarding fuel. He even opened the coffin to demonstrate this to staff.
An employee then informed the station manager, after which they agreed to fill his containers.
News of the incident spread rapidly on social media, attracting thousands of reactions and comments.
Preecha said he has worked as an undertaker since 2005 and has regularly purchased diesel in containers from the same station, particularly after the temple switched from wood-fired to diesel-powered furnaces.
During the current fuel shortage, restrictions on fuel sales have been imposed to prevent hoarding.
He urged service station operators to consider appropriate exceptions, particularly for temples that require fuel for cremations, as well as for farmers who need fuel to run machinery during the harvest season.
He added that the deceased’s family had consented to the cremation and that, due to their low income, a donor had contributed money to cover the fuel costs.
