The local Party and police chiefs of Shalan Township, Ning'an City of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, have been placed under legal investigation for negligence in offering timely rescue in a fatal mountain torrent Friday afternoon that killed 92 people, sources said.

Huang Mingjun, secretary of Shalan Township committee of the Chinese Communist Party, and Li Zuoyu, police chief of Shalan Township, were accused of responsibility for failing to organize timely rescue, according to sources with the local government.

Some local villagers complained that when the flash flood occurred, they reported to Shalan Township Government and the local police station, hoping to seek help with them, but failed to have response.

The Shalan Township was hit by the mountain torrent Friday afternoon. By 6 PM on Sunday, 92 people, including 88 pupils, were confirmed dead.

Another 17 pupils remained missing, and rescue operation is continuing tensely, said an official with the rescue headquarters.

(Xinhua News Agency June 13, 2005)