Two brothers found dead in Chi river

Rescue volunteers take one of the bodies of two brothers found in the Chi River to an ambulance on Sunday. (Photo by Yongyuth Phuphuangpet)

KALASIN: The bodies of two brothers were found in the Chi River in Khong Chai district of this northeastern province on Sunday morning.

Pol Capt Visit Srichan, a Khong Chai police duty officer, said the bodies were found by villagers at about 10.30am in the river in an area adjoining two villages -- Ban Non Daeng in Kalasin's Khong Chai district and Ban Tha Tum in Muang district of Maha Sarakham province.

A team of forensic police and doctors from Khong Chai Hospital and staff of a local charity foundation went to the spot for examination.

They found the bodies lying side by side near the river bank. They were identified as Niwat Assayo, 36, and his younger brother Wakkhi, 24, of Ban Tha Tum.

Burns thought to be from an electric shock were found on their bodies, leading to the belief that they might have died from electrocution about six hours previously.

Thongchai Assayo, the father of the two, said his sons left their home on a motorcycle at about 8pm on Saturday night to look for fish and mushrooms. He learned only this morning that they had died.

The motorcycle was found about two kilometres from where the bodies were found.

Pol Maj Gen Tinnarat Phetpansri, the Kalasin police chief, said the bodies had been sent to Srinakarind Hospital in Khon Khaen for forensic examination to establish the cause of the deaths.

He said it was initially believed the burns left on the bodies might be from electrocution because the two might have tripped on live electric wires laid by farmers to prevent rodents from getting into their rice fields. But, it was still in doubt why the bodies were found in the river, he added.