MUZAFFARABAD, Aug 23: The Chief Justice of the Azad Jammu Kashmir Supreme Court on Thursday asked of the authorities concerned to determine who should be held responsible for the Neelum Valley road accident in which 29 people lost their lives.

Taking strong exception to frequent accidents on the main Neelum Valley road, Chief Justice Reaz Akhtar Chaudhry, issued notices to chief engineer of the public works department (highways), motor vehicle examiner, licensing authority, assistant inspector-general of police (traffic) and investigation officer concerned to explain the reasons of the accident.

The CJ was of the view that the authorities responsible for ensuring passenger safety and road worthiness of vehicles should be penalised in the event of such incidents.

Meanwhile, the official said, the CJ also served a notice upon the director-general, health, after learning that there was no maternity centre in the Neelum Valley despite its being home to more than 150,000 people.