CHIANG RAI – The governor of Chiang Rai is facing possible disciplinary action for failing to meet with the Caretaker Prime Minster and Caretaker Interior Minister who visit flood victims in the province on Saturday.
Mr Anutin said Chiang Rai’s governor should have been present to command operations as director of the provincial disaster mitigation centre.
He said Chiang Rai Governor Puttipong Sirimart was not present to carry out his duty to help people and their grievances. He had all day and did not contact us to explain why he was not present. Governor Puttipong has three days to come up with an explanation.
Caretaker Prime Minster Phumtham Wechayachai and Caretaker Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited Chiang Rai’s Thoeng district on Saturday to rush aid to the flood victims.
On Tuesday, Anutin said he was embarrassed that one of his subordinates had failed to carry out his duty when the caretaker premier had personally shown up at the field.
He said he did not expect governor Puttipong to go out of his way for his and Phumtham’s convenience, but he should have been there to work with them to help Chiang Rai’s flood victims.
Anutin said he learned that governor Puttipong was in Bangkok but had completed his mission at 7pm on Friday and should have taken a flight back to Chiang Rai on Saturday morning.
Governor Puttipong Sirimart had been informed in advance that the they would arrive in Chiang Rai at 9am on Saturday, so he should have had an effort to return to the province. He added that if governor Puttipong was unable to book a flight, then he could have joined him and Prime Minister Phumtham on their government jet to Chiang Rai.
“Had he called me, I would have freed a seat for him by getting one of my aides to stay back,” Anutin told reporters.
Chiang Rai has seen twelve days of constant rain, turning streets into rivers and causing widespread pandemonium. Flooding has forced businesses to close, and residents are dealing with destroyed homes and crops.
The Chiang Rai Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command Centre reported yesterday that the province is still experiencing severe rain, flash flooding, and landslides. There are currently 12 districts, 35 sub-districts, and 3,328 households affected.
Despite their best efforts, emergency crews face huge challenges due to the unpredictable weather, while many residents are worried about losing their homes to flooding.
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