Yangon, April 18 (IANS) A total of 285 people were killed and 1,073 others injured across Myanmar during a four-day water festival, media reports said.
The deaths were 13 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.
[caption id="attachment_265884" align="aligncenter" width="639"]
Children are ferried on the back of a tricycle after being soaked with water during celebrations marking the beginning of the Buddhist New Year, or Thingyan as it is known locally, in Yangon on April 14, 2017. (Photo by Roberto Schmidt/AFP Photo)[/caption]
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Revelers are sprayed with water as they ride in the back of a truck during the second day of the traditional water festival, which is also known as the Burmese New Year Festival of Thingyan, April.14, 2017, in Yangon, Myanmar. (Photo by Thein Zaw/AP Photo)[/caption]
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.
This year's traditional Thingyan water festival ran from Thursday to Sunday.
During last year's water festival, a total of 272 people were killed and 1,086 others injured.
