PHNOM PENH, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Thursday broke ground for the construction of a memorial monument to commemorate the 353 people who died during the stampede in November last year at the Diamond Bridge.
The stupa is located about 5 meters northwest of the Diamond Bridge, where the stampede occurred.
“The memorial monument is to commemorate the dead in a tragic stampede on November 22 last year during the final day of the Water Festival,” said the Governor of Phnom Penh Kep Chuk Tema during the ground breaking ceremony.
“The construction is scheduled to complete before the one-year anniversary of the deaths from the tragic stampede,” he added.
The stupa, designed in the style of the Angkorian Bayon temple, will bear four faces; it is expected to cost 120,000 U.S. dollars, donated by the Diamond Island developer Overseas Cambodia Investment Corporation, Bayon TV, CTN and the City Hall.
Last year’s stampede accident was caused by the panic which soon after led to the stampede during the final day of the water festival.
Cambodia's Water Festival is the largest annual festival in the Southeast Asian nations, around three million Cambodians, especially those from rural areas converged to the city to enjoy the regatta.
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