He made the report at the Kuala Dipang police station.

Hundreds of parents converged on Sekolah Kebangsaan Kuala Dipang  after the suspension bridge at the 1Malaysia Co-curriculum Centre collapsed around 10.40pm.

Initial reports had it that 22 pupils had drowned in the Kampar River.

Kampar police chief Supt Abdul Aziz Salleh said the male teacher was one of the teachers supervising pupils taking part in the activities organised at the centre by the Kinta Selatan District Education Department.

Abdul Aziz said apart from Fire and Rescue Department, police and Rela, Royal Malaysian Navy divers were brought in to assist in the search and rescue operations.

He said rescuers were concentrating their efforts up to several kilometres downriver, especially around the Tronoh Mines area where debris traps are located.

The body of the first victim, Dina Deve Nathan,11, was found by rescuers at 8.40pm about 2km from the collapsed bridge.

Politicians visit site of tragedy

ROYAL CONCERN: Raja Nazrin accompanied by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir at the scene of the collapsed suspension bridge

Shortly after the 10.40pm incident, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir came to the scene. Initial reports that 22 pupils had drowned must have prompted the menteri besar to visit the scene himself.

The Malay Mail was informed that the menteri besar consoled distraught parents who rushed to the 1Malaysia Co-Curriculum Centre in Kuala Dipang, Kampar, located some 20km from the State capital, Ipoh.

In the morning, Zambry returned to Kuala Dipang to accompany Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

In the afternoon, former Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamnad Nizar  amaluddin also visited the scene.

He later returned  accompanied by Penang Chief Minister  Lim Guan Eng and several DAP Members of Parliament.

Apart from the politicians, Perak Regent Raja Nazrin Shah also came to the scene. He was briefed by police and Fire and Rescue Department officials supervising the search for the two missing pupils.