Thesun 2009-10-28 Page01 Deadly Crossing

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No. 4874 PP 2644/12/2009 (023092)

Wednesday October 28, 2009

TELLING IT AS IT IS

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REUTERSPIX

Deadly crossing AMPAR: It’s too late to ask this question, but how could the organisers of a camp in Kuala Dipang near here allow 30 to 50 schoolchildren to get on a narrow suspension bridge over a river that is swift-flowing and deep enough to be treacherous?

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As can be expected of children in such a situation, some were jumping and shaking the bridge when they were crossing it at 10.30pm on Monday, according to witnesses. The groups of children were walking from the campsite to SK Kuala Dipang for their dinner or returning after they had eaten. They were among 298 pupils from 60 schools in Kampar, Tronoh and Batu Gajah who were taking part in a 1Malaysia camp organised by the south Kinta District Education Department. Witnesses said there was a lot of swaying just before the newly-built narrow bridge collapsed. It happened because the metal support at one end of the rope bridge was ripped off its base. Schoolgirl N. Dina Deve, 11, of SJK Tamil Mambang Di Awan, drowned. Her body was recovered at 8.40am in Kampung Pasir, 2km downstream. Two other girls were still missing at press time. The part of Kampar River where the bridge collapsed is about 30m wide and 1.5m deep. It is normal safety procedure at suspension bridges to allow only a limited number of people to cross at intervals. It is

not known if a load test was done on this particular bridge before the children were allowed to use it. These and many other questions will now have to be the subject of a probe by a committee headed by Education directorgeneral Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also education minister, ordered the probe when he visited the site yesterday morning. “We will give the committee sufficient time to prepare a complete and detailed report.” He said though the bridge was donated by a company, the committee will investigate if its construction was monitored and if it had fulfilled proper specifications. The committee will also find out whether there was supervision by teachers prior to the accident, he said, adding that 25 teachers were managing activities at the camp. He also said the 1Malaysia Camp programme and co-curriculum activities aimed at forging interaction would go on as scheduled nationwide. Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, who visited the scene on

Monday night, was also perplexed that the newly-built bridge collapsed. Perak Deputy CPO Datuk Zakaria Yusof said the body of Dina Deve was sent to the Kampar Hospital. Nineteen other pupils feared missing at first had been accounted for and were safe, he said. Villagers joined in the search and rescue operation mounted by 500 personnel from the police, navy, Fire & Rescue Department, Rela, Civil Defence Department and other agencies. Parents rushed to the school Monday night upon hearing the news and some became angry when they could not confirm the safety of their children even at 3am. The Education Ministry has approved a RM10,000 aid to the family of Dina Deve for funeral expenses. –Agencies

ORIENTAL DAILYNEWSPIX

A search and rescue team looks for the missing children near the site of the collapsed suspension bridge (background).

Lucky lad ... Survivor Mohammad Ammar is consoled by his mother yesterday. More stories & photos on page 4.