Suriya" responded to the "Prime Minister's" policy to urgently help the people in Chiang Rai Province after suffering from severe flooding. The "Permanent Secretary of Transport" revealed that the transport departments are distributing relief bags, while the Department of Highways and the Department of Rural Roads are mobilizing staff, machinery, and Bailey bridges to repair broken roads and bridges, facilitating travel immediately, while emphasizing the highest level of safety. Mr. Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, revealed that from the order of Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, regarding the flood crisis in Chiang Rai Province, by assigning the Ministry of Transport to urgently repair broken roads and bridges to make it more convenient for the people to travel, especially at this time when people must be evacuated quickly, he has recently ordered the relevant agencies under the Ministry of Transport to urgently go to Chiang Rai Province and provide ass istance and care to the affected people to the fullest extent, including arranging officers to take care of the situation 24 hours a day (hr.) until the situation improves. 'I would like to thank all the officials from all agencies who worked hard in Chiang Rai Province due to the flooding incident, both the Department of Highways (DOH) and the Department of Rural Roads (DRR) who immediately repaired broken roads and damaged bridges that were swept away by the current. In addition, the Marine Department (MD) has dispatched boats and jet skis to help the people and is on standby 24 hours a day with determination and to the best of their ability. I would also like to give encouragement to all those affected and hope that we will get through this incident well,' said Mr. Suriya. Mr. Chaiyatham Promsorn, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, said that from the order of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, the Ministry of Transport has now supervised all agencies under the Ministry of Transport to integrate resources, tools and machinery into the flood-stricken areas of Chiang Rai Province to integrate with other agencies to help the people, both in terms of solving the problem of landslides obstructing travel on the roads, solving the problem of roads or bridges that have been damaged by the flood, in order to maintain transportation in the area to be able to transport food, drinking water, and necessary medical supplies to the people affected by the flood. By the agencies of the Ministry of Transport, including the Department of Highways (DOH), the Department of Rural Roads (DRR), the Marine Department (MD), the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT), Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT), and other agencies under the Ministry of Transport, etc., have also mobilized to prepare 10,547 relief bags and more than 50,442 bottles of drinking water to distribute to the affected people in a comprehensive and continuous manner. For the overall operation of the agencies under the Ministry of Transport, they have integrated to help the people fully. The Disaster Command Center of the Ministry of Transport reported that the Ministry of Transport has integrated with many agencies, such as the Ministry of Interior and the Royal Thai Army, to help the people to be safe, both in life and property, and to help deliver food to the cut-off areas. At the same time, it has emphasized the connectivity of road travel by prioritizing main and secondary roads, including having all agencies coordinate and report their operations to the Command Center continuously until the situation improves. In addition, the Department of Highways and the Department of Rural Roads have mobilized personnel and equipment from many areas to provide assistance in Chiang Rai Province. That is, the Department of Highways has prepared Bailey bridges from all over the country, totaling more than 1,500 meters, while the Department of Rural Roads has prepared about 280 meters to repair broken bridges or roads so that people can trave l back and forth conveniently. They have also prepared machinery, materials, and installed warning signs and advisory signs to inform people and closely monitor the situation 24 hours a day. While the DPT reported that it has prepared boats to help people at various points, all DPT units, both in the disaster area and the surveillance area, have integrated and prepared personnel, royal flat-bottomed boats, vehicles, and various equipment ready to immediately help flood victims. However, if the people need assistance or want to inquire about information, they can contact the Highways Office, Highways District, Highways Division in the area, and the Highways Department hotline at 1586 (toll-free on all networks, 24 hours a day), the Department of Rural Roads hotline at 1146, and the DPT hotline at 1199, 24 hours a day. Source: Thai News Agency