Beijing, Dec 28 (IANS) Fifty-four people have been found accountable for a fatal high-speed train crash in China in July that killed 40 people, the government said Wednesday.

All 54 will receive disciplinary punishment, the State Council or cabinet agreed at an executive meeting, Xinhua reported.

The accident took place July 23 when a high-speed train rammed into a stationary train near Wenzhou in Zhejiang province.

The final investigation report said the crash was caused by flaws in the train operation control system and inadequate emergency response by the railway authorities.

Liu Zhijun, then railway minister, and Zhang Shuguang, the railway ministry’s deputy chief engineer, were both removed from office over alleged violation of discipline.