The Rainbow Bridge tragedy in Chongqing's Qijiang county has developed into a full-blown scandal involving virtually the entire local bureaucracy.
Meanwhile, state media stepped up their attacks on cadres who are being blamed for the deaths of at least 40 people in the accident.
The bridge collapsed on January 4, killing 23 paramilitary police officers and 17 civilians.
Xinhua yesterday stepped up criticism of Lin Shiyuan, the vice-party secretary who was arrested last week for accepting bribes over construction of the bridge.
Lin was accused of accepting a payment of 100,000 yuan (HK$93,000) from former classmate Fei Shengli in exchange for the construction contract.
Xinhua said Lin had accepted the money because he wanted to send his children to a top school.