Monday, November 29, 2010

Cambodian stampede

The three-day Water Festival is held each November to honor a victory by Cambodian naval forces during the 12th century reign of King Jayavarman VII.During the festival, which includes boat races, participants pray for a good rice harvest and enough rain, and celebrate the full moon.

Cambodian government has decreased the official death toll from a stampede on a suspension bridge in the capital from 456 to 347. Government investigators said on Wednesday that the bridge swayed as thousands of people attempted to cross it Monday night during the Water Festival. Apparently it led to fears that it would collapse, triggering the stampede. Hundreds of others were injured in the incident.

Police fired water canons at the people to keep them moving which led to further panic. The government annouced that they will help transport the bodies of the dead and pay 5 million riel ($1,230) to the family of each of the deceased.


Comments:
The Water Festival should be a joyous event but it turn out to be a tragedy. In my opinion,even though there is a reduction in the death poll from 456 to 357 it is still not a positive news.
The police should not have handle the situation by firing water canons at the people. This causes more panic and fear in the people.Instead, they should have use alternative ways to calm and lead the people to safety.
The government tackled this tragedy by paying 5 million riel(SG$1230) to the family of each the deceased which i think is not rational to do it as life cannot be measured using monetary terms.The government should really look into the problem and amend on how their police force handles it, if there's such horrendous situation again.


Lin Zong Han

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