Angry residents in a north Chinese town have accused a vice mayor and other officials of doing nothing to help a 13-year old girl drown in a canal, it was reported Tuesday.
An investigation has been ordered into the affair, which began when the girl, riding a bicycle, fell off a bridge into the irrigation canal while avoiding a motorcade carrying the officials, the China Youth Daily said.
Wang Ping fell off the three-meter (2.5-yard) wide Huangwan bridge in Xinbao township, Ningxia region, as the nine-car motorcade of prefecture-level officials crossed on October 31, the report said.
The regional government subsequently ordered an investigation into Wuzhong city vice mayor Wang Mingzhong, who was on an inspection of the area, and suspended him from his duties, the paper said.
"How could you have not tried to save her? If it was your girl who fell into the water, would you have saved her?" angry residents asked in the letter.
Vice mayor Wang said the water in the canal was too deep and swift-flowing and that he could not swim, the paper reported.
Another official offered 500 yuan (60 dollars) to local farmers arriving on the scene to jump into the water and help the girl. Still no one offered no help.
Following the incident, Wang Ping's family received 60,000 yuan (7,200 dollars) in compensation from the Wuzhong city government, the report said. Her body has still not been recovered.
(Xinhua News Agency November 28,2001)
