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300,000 COPIES DAILY
Deadly
crossing
AMPAR: It’s too late to ask this question, but how could
K
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?
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
Member of Audit Bureau of Circulations (Malaysia)
30 SEN for delivery to your doorstep
2009 AWARDS
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No. 4874 PP 2644/12/2009 (023092)
Wednesday
October 28, 2009
TELLING IT AS IT IS www.sun2surf.com
REUTERSPIX
A search and
rescue team
looks for the
missing children
near the site of
the collapsed
suspension bridge
(background).
ORIENTAL DAILYNEWSPIX
not known if a load test was done on this Monday night, was also perplexed that the
particular bridge before the children were newly-built bridge collapsed.
allowed to use it. Perak Deputy CPO Datuk Zakaria
These and many other questions will Yusof said the body of Dina Deve
now have to be the subject of a probe by a was sent to the Kampar Hospital.
committee headed by Education director- Nineteen other pupils feared
general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom. missing at first had been account-
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin ed for and were safe, he said.
Yassin, who is also education minister, Villagers joined in the search
ordered the probe when he visited the site and rescue operation mounted by
yesterday morning. 500 personnel from the police,
“We will give the committee sufficient navy, Fire & Rescue Depart-
time to prepare a complete and detailed ment, Rela, Civil Defence De-
report.” partment and other agencies.
He said though the bridge was donated Parents rushed to the school
by a company, the committee will investi- Monday night upon hearing
gate if its construction was monitored and the news and some be-
if it had fulfilled proper specifications. The came angry when they
committee will also find out whether there could not confirm the
was supervision by teachers prior to the safety of their children Lucky lad
accident, he said, adding that 25 teachers even at 3am. ... Survivor
were managing activities at the camp. The Educa- Mohammad
He also said the 1Malaysia Camp tion Ministry Ammar is consoled
programme and co-curriculum activities has approved a by his mother
aimed at forging interaction would go on as RM10,000 aid to yesterday. More
scheduled nationwide. the family of Dina stories & photos
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zam- Deve for funeral ex- on page 4.
bry Abdul Kadir, who visited the scene on penses. –Agencies