Ceiling collapse at Wat Pa Na Don leaves monks in shock

A ceiling collapse at Wat Pa Na Don in Udon Thani left monks and devotees in shock. The incident, which occurred while monks were performing a religious ceremony, resulted in no injuries but significant damage to the ceiling.

The collapse happened during a gathering of monks and devotees at Wat Pa Na Don, located in Nong Na Kham, Mueang district, Udon Thani. As the monks were engaged in a ceremony, the ceiling of the sermon hall suddenly gave way, causing everyone present to run for their lives. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the ceiling suffered extensive damage.

After the incident, monks and villagers worked together to clear the debris and plan for the installation of a new, more durable ceiling. The collapse was attributed to the accumulation of pigeon droppings under the ceiling, which weighed over 1 tonne. The weight became too much for the ceiling to bear, leading to its collapse. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

Upon revisiting the temple, it was observed that the collapsed ceiling had not been fully cleaned. Pigeon droppings and feathers were still scattered on the floor among the broken ceiling pieces. Several pigeons were seen perched on the roof’s steel frame, seemingly unbothered by the incident.

Locals had already collected the pigeon droppings to use as fertiliser for their fields. Meanwhile, preparations were underway for an upcoming Kathina ceremony from October 26 to October 27, although some villagers were hesitant to sit near the sermon hall for fear of another collapse.

The 62 year old abbot of Wat Pa Na Don, Uthai Kamchalee recounted the terrifying moment when the ceiling fell. He described how the incident occurred while devotees were offering donations for the Kathina ceremony.

Ceiling collapse

Monks and devotees were discussing the event and reciting prayers when pigeons flying under the roof started pecking and fighting, leading to the ceiling’s collapse. The collapse began in the centre of the hall and quickly spread to where the monks were seated. The loud crash prompted everyone to flee in panic. One devotee sustained a minor forehead injury, but the five monks present were unharmed.

The abbot mentioned that they would wait until after the Kathina ceremony to assess the funds available for repairs, estimating that the reconstruction would cost at least 200,000 baht (US$5,965). He noted that pigeons had entered the space through a hole in the roof’s gable, reported KhaoSod.

This was the first time he had experienced such an incident, having only seen similar events in the news. He believed that the temple’s guardian spirits had caused the ceiling to collapse before the Kathina ceremony to prevent a more tragic outcome. He shuddered to think of the injuries that could have occurred if the ceiling had collapsed during the ceremony.