Chiang Mai is grappling with severe flooding after the Ping River breached its banks, inundating both business districts and homes. The water level reached a critical 4.75 meters on Wednesday night, leading local authorities to set up sandbag barriers and temporary shelters for displaced residents.

As the water level in the Ping River continues to rise, Chiang Mai Municipality has issued an imminent-flood alert, urging residents in low-lying areas to move their belongings to higher ground. Heavy upstream rains have caused the surge, with officials distributing sandbags and closely monitoring the situation.

The flood crisis in Chiang Mai has led to the closure of hospitals and suspension of train services, with water levels reaching up to one meter in several areas. The economic impact is significant, prompting the Prime Minister to call for rapid drainage efforts and ensure careful monitoring of dam releases.

Heavy rains from Doi Suthep have exacerbated flooding in Chiang Mai, with affected areas including the university and railway station. Despite a stable river level, efforts to drain about 3 million cubic meters of water are underway, supervised by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra who is overseeing inspections in flood-hit regions.

Shifting focus, investigations are now being conducted at Rajaprajanugroh 47 School in Phetchaburi over substandard school meals. Sparked by online photos of poor-quality food, both the Basic Education Commission and the National Anti-Corruption Commission are looking into potential negligence.

In health news, Thailand's Public Health Ministry, led by Minister Somsak Thepsutin, is proposing tax incentives to fight Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as cancer and diabetes. This initiative, supported by a campaign with one million village health volunteers, aims to save lives and potentially reduce government expenses by 1.6 trillion baht annually.