CHENGDU, Dec. 3 -- The former Communist Party chief of a quake-hit city in southwest China is being investigated for serious discipline violations, authorities said Tuesday.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) discipline inspection commission of Sichuan Province decided to launch an investigation into Xu Mengjia, former secretary of the CPC committee of Ya'an City, said the commission in a statement.

Xu had been the Party boss of Ya'an from June 2006 until he was removed from the post in mid-November.

A 7.0-magnitude quake jolted Ya'an in April this year, leaving 196 dead and thousands injured.