The Union government on Thursday decided to set up a high-level committee to probe the fire in Sabarmati Express in Godhra in 2002 that left over 50 people, mostly pilgrims returning from Ayodhya, dead and sparked off riots in large parts of Gujarat.

The committee will be headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice U C Banerjee, Finance Minister P Chidambaram told reporters in New Delhi after a Cabinet meeting.