HMK (right) studies maps of Bangkok with BMA officials during 1983 heavy Flooding in Bangkok
HMK (right) studies maps of Bangkok with BMA officials during 1983 heavy Flooding in Bangkok On Nov. 7, back in1983 when the biggest flood in 43 years brought the people in Bangkok the misery of flooding for about two months as the water had no way to drain out. They didn’t know that His Majesty had been quietly trying very hard to help them. That day a Jeep Wagoneer station wagon moved out from Chitra Lada Palce at around 2.00pm with His Majesty sitting inside, The car headed for Ayutthya Rd. and Petchburi Rd. for a final destination on the Bangna-Trad Highway on the east side of Bangkok. The car moved along the flooded roads without any sort of advance announcement from the Royal Palace. The traffic police did not receive any information on the royal outing. The unmarked station wagon stopped from time to time on the way for His Majesty to check the water level. When the station wagon reached the new bridge over Lad Krabung Canal, His Majesty stepped out of the wagon to take photos of the flooding on the spot. His Majesty stayed there to study the maps of the location until late in the afternoon before getting into the palace vehicle and head back to inner Bangkok. At the bridge over Nong Bon canal, the vehicle stopped again for His Majesty to get down and take more photos of the flooded area. The local people got the news of the royal visit at their low-lying and heavily flooded area. Hundreds of them got out of their homes to see His Majesty at a close range. The traffic became congested on the bridge. His Majesty stood on the bridge to make hand signals for the royal convoy to clear the bridge