Thai PM chided over poor flood aid

During a boat tour of areas submerged in polluted floodwaters in the capital Bangkok, Shinawatra was rebuked by disgruntled residents of the hard-hit Don Mueang district, AFP reported. "You're here just for fun, not really to help, so don't come back!" an elderly man told the Thai premier. "I don't know if you've come here to help or make the situation worse," shouted a woman who missed out on an aid package because supplies ran out. Speaking at the government's flood relief center later in the day, Shinawatra said, "I have a heavy heart, seeing people suffer while I have to coordinate with many people in my work, so it's stressful." She added, "Anyway I will work to the best of my ability and please be assured that all officials will comply." Thailand'sDisaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said on Thursday that the death toll in recent flooding, which has left swathes of the Southeast Asian country under water, stands at 437. Two others remain missing since tropical storms started battering the country in late July. Ten more people were confirmed dead on Wednesday. Six people lost their lives in the central province of Ang Thong, two in the central province of Nakhon Sawan, one in the central province of Sukhothai, and one in the central province of Nakhon Pathom. The provinces of Nakhon Sawan and Phichit in central Thailand reported the highest death tolls, having respectively lost 61 and 50 people to the flooding. The deluge still prevails in 25 provinces in central and northeastern parts of Thailand. Meanwhile, thirteen commercial banks along with a financial firm have reportedly been forced to temporarily halt their services at a total of 482 branches in the flood-hit provinces