Thamanat Mobilizes Relief for Pua Floods in Nan
Thamanat Prompow visited Pua district in Nan on Aug 24, deploying mobile kitchens and water trucks to assist flood victims while urging long-term water management.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Thamanat led a team to assist flood-hit Pua district in Nan on day 6 of the crisis.
- Deployed water trucks, backhoes, 2 mobile kitchens, water tanks, and mobile toilets.
- Urged the Royal Irrigation Department to dredge the Nan River and build reservoirs.
- Pushed for a 52 km bypass diversion project worth 24 billion baht for flood control.
On August 24, Captain Thamanat Prompow, MP for Phayao and leader of the Klatham Party, accompanied by MP Akara Prompow, MP Prasit Notah, and the Thamanat Prompow Foundation team, visited Pua district in Nan province. The mission aimed to monitor the situation and provide aid to residents suffering from severe floods and mudslides, marking the sixth consecutive day since flash floods struck on August 19.
The relief operation mobilized heavy machinery and resources from multiple provinces, including water trucks, backhoes, and earth-moving trucks. The foundation deployed two mobile kitchens, 1,000 water buckets, 300 large 1,000-liter water tanks, and coordinated the setup of mobile toilets since most local wells and water supply systems were buried under thick mud.
Thamanat instructed work crews to use heavy machinery to clear blocked routes, remove mud and debris, and help wash down residential homes. Meanwhile, water trucks and storage tanks continuously supplied potable water to locals, while mobile kitchens prepared meals for both disaster victims and rescue personnel to ensure uninterrupted recovery operations.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The flooding crisis in Pua district, Nan province, highlights the vulnerability of regional infrastructure when confronted with sudden flash floods and mudslides. While immediate emergency responses such as heavy machinery deployment and relief supplies are vital, long-term management of the Nan River basin—a critical tributary of the Chao Phraya River—requires robust structural investments and cross-agency coordination to prevent recurring devastation in the future.
Beyond short-term relief, Thamanat emphasized that the core solution lies in systematically upgrading Nan's water resource management. He noted that comprehensive dredging and management plans had already been formulated during his tenure as Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, urging relevant agencies, particularly the Royal Irrigation Department, to fast-track ready projects.
“The most critical issue is dredging the Nan River and its tributaries, as well as water storage basins. The Nan River spans over 300 kilometers, and plans have mapped out where dredging is needed every 30 kilometers all the way to the Sirikit Dam reservoir. Without urgent action, the same floods could recur next year.”
Thamanat Prompow
Long-term sustainability plans include 18 urgent Nan River dredging sites, the construction of medium and large reservoirs in key river basins to boost agricultural irrigation, fisheries, and tourism, and a 52-kilometer water diversion project bypassing Nan and Wiangsa towns with a budget of 24 billion baht. Additionally, plans feature a 1.3-kilometer flood defense barrier around Nan Hospital with a 69 million baht budget to protect the vital medical facility.
Furthermore, coordination with housing development agencies and the private sector is underway to repair damaged homes, as state budgets may be limited. Thamanat affirmed that all issues found during the field visit will be brought to official meetings for additional support measures, vowing to stand by the people of Pua until normalcy is restored.
Source: Matichon Politics
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