Crush leads to new rules
The Chongqing authorities have called on organisers of mass events to formulate safety plans and apply for police approval 20 days in advance to avoid a repeat of the stampede at a supermarket that left three people dead on Saturday.
The emergency notice, issued by the Chongqing municipal government, came after hordes of bargain hunters rushed to buy five-litre bottles of cooking oil being sold at a 22 per cent discount at the Carrefour store. Thirty-one people were also injured in the incident.
'When organising large-scale mass events, the principles of treating safety as the top priority and ensuring effective preventive measures are put in place should be adhered to,' the notice said.
It added that while organisers should be responsible for implementing these principles, the government would play a monitoring role, including punishing organisers who failed to follow safety rules.
A company spokesman said it would compensate the victims in accordance with the law.
The stampede has raised concerns as to how closely new safety regulations are being followed at mass events.
