285 killed, 1,073 injured during Myanmar water festival
At least 285 people were killed and 1,073 others were injured during a four-day annual water festival 'Thingyan' which happened from Thursday to Sunday across Myanmar, according to reports. As many as 1,200 criminal cases related to murder, theft, drug use, and group violence were registered during the near nation-wide water fight that welcomes the traditional New Year.
A total of 285 people were killed and 1,073 others injured across Myanmar during a four-day water festival, media reports said.This year's traditional Thingyan water festival ran from Thursday to Sunday. The deaths were 13 times more than that of last year's event.Meanwhile, a total of 1,200 criminal cases were also registered during the water festival, Xinhua news agency reported.Among the deaths, 10 were in Nay Pyi Taw, 44 in Yangon, 36 in Mandalay, 26 in Sagaing region, 11 in Tanintharyi region, 37 in Bago region, 11 in Magway region, 20 in Mon state, 17 in Rakhine, 29 in Shan state and 28 in Ayeyawaddy region.The criminal cases were related to murder, car accident, drug-use, theft, arm possession and group violence respectively.During last year's water festival, a total of 272 people were killed and 1,086 others injured.