To restore public trust, there must be true accountability for Shanghai tragedy

Investigations of man-made tragedies should provide answers for the relatives of the victims, ensure accountability from those who failed to prevent them and recommendations that are properly implemented so that there can never be a repeat. The report into the deaths of 36 people in a stampede on Shanghai's Bund on New Year's Eve has covered the first and last of these, but is lacking when it comes to authorities taking responsibility. Rightly, the city's vice-mayor has apologised, four district leaders have been dismissed and lesser punishments handed down to seven lower-ranking officials. Yet there are those who believe that blame also lies with the municipal government.

The tragedy was preventable. Authorities failed to adequately advise that a fireworks display held on the Bund in previous years had been relocated. A crowd had gathered and grown to 310,000 and insufficient numbers of police had been deployed to monitor and keep them in check. The initial 771 officers and 180 security guards were poorly placed throughout the crowd; they were overwhelmed by the crush and poorly equipped. When people toppled down steps in Chen Yi Square and panic ensued, they could do nothing but watch. Leaders who should have been giving orders were at the time enjoying a sumptuous dinner paid for by the public purse.

Coinciding with the release of the investigation report on Wednesday, Huangpu district Communist Party chief Zhou Wei , district governor Peng Song , police chief Zhou Zheng and deputy police chief Chen Qi were sacked. The major causes of the tragedy were put down to a failure to properly inform that there would be no new year's countdown in the area, a lack of advance risk assessment and an untimely response by police. Among the long list of measures implemented to avoid similar incidents are improved monitoring and better management of large crowds, strengthened government coordination in emergency situations and more education on public safety.

There are calls for Shanghai authorities who put so much faith in the local officials, the mayor among them, to also take responsibility. Lunar New Year festivities in the city have been cancelled, prompting more questions. Cities throughout the nation must learn from the tragedy. But the investigation, changes and compensation given to victims' families do not draw a curtain on the horrific event. Restoring public trust rests on government accountability - and that is still lacking.