Suriya Juangroongruangkit clarified that he is not seriously ill, but experiencing typical fatigue for someone of his age. He received brief medical care at the hospital and declared his spirit is more than 100 percent, adding he proceeded with fieldwork as he had already scheduled with local residents.
On 25 May 2026, following Mr. Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, attended the ordination ceremony of Mr. Rachen Silparaya, former director of the Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation Department, at Wat Kasetsilakhun, also known as Wat Pa Ban Tad, Ban Tad Subdistrict, Mueang District, Udon Thani Province. The event was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Songsak Thongsri, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Mr. Watcharapol Khaokham, as well as current and former members of parliament and government officials who had worked with the former department director.
After the ceremony, reporters sought an interview with Mr. Suriya regarding reports that he had fainted and lost consciousness, requiring emergency transport to hospital and CPR to save his life, but Mr. Suriya declined an official interview, only telling reporters that his condition was not serious but simply fatigue common in elderly people, and that he had received short-term medical care at the hospital. The delegation then proceeded to inspect the Ban Sam Phrao water gate in Sam Phrao Subdistrict, Mueang District, Udon Thani. In the afternoon, they planned to inspect preparations for the World Horticultural Exposition at the Nong Da wetland area.
At the Ban Sam Phrao water gate, reporters again asked about his field visit despite recent illness. Mr. Suriya replied, “Because I had already arranged to meet with local residents and planned to visit the area to address issues, my spirit is definitely more than 100 percent.”
Additionally, when asked about policies to assist with border flood issues and how he would reassure farmers and residents in Udon Thani, Mr. Suriya said the Director-General of the Royal Irrigation Department noted the main problems are shallow waterways, deteriorated embankments lacking maintenance, and water gates. He believes the director-general must urgently resolve these issues, especially securing the budget for implementation. He expects that during his tenure as minister, these projects must be completed to permanently solve the chronic flooding in Ban Sam Phrao.
