Human skeleton found in sewer near Bangkok

A human skeleton was found in a sewer along a motorway in Nonthaburi province, just north of Bangkok, in central Thailand yesterday. Police believe the skeleton belonged to a man who died at least seven months ago.

At 11pm, officers at Mueang Nonthaburi Police Station were informed that a human skull and other human bones were discovered by employees inside a sewer near an exit of the Ngam Wong Wan Expressway in Bang Khen subdistrict, Mueang district.

Police travelled to the scene with volunteers from the Phor Teck Tung Foundation to investigate.

The skeleton was discovered by 43 year old employee Witthaya Rakthanakit, who along with 28 other employees, was working on dredging the clogged-up sewers from 10pm – 4am.

Not long into his shift, Witthaya was using a plastic bucket to scoop the debris out of the sewer when his bucket hit a human skull.

Witthaya’s supervisor, 50 year old Wichien Suanmali, immediately informed the police as well as expressway officials at the scene.

Some 28 bones were found in the sewer including pelvic bones, arm bones, leg bones, ribs, and more, reports KhaoSod. A pair of men’s underwear was also found in the sewer.

Expressway officials said that this sewer was last dredged two years ago and is covered by a steel drain cover weighing around 80 kilogrammes.

Lifting the cover to enter the sewer requires the strength of two strong workers, officials said. Officials regularly inspect the orderliness of the area, they added.

It’s highly unlikely that the deceased fell into the sewer himself seeing as the manhole cover is closed most of the time, officials said.

A preliminary inspection of the bones suggests that the skeleton belonged to a man who died at least seven months ago but not more than one year ago, said police.

The human remains were taken to the Institute of Forensic Medicine for a thorough autopsy.

Police are investigating whether the skull belongs to anyone reported missing in the area.