MANSEHRA: Twelve people were killed in separate incidents in Mansehra and Kohistan districts on Friday.

A speeding truck hit a pickup van on the Hazara Expressway at the Ichrian Interchange here leaving five passengers seriously injured.

The Rescue 1122 shifted the injured to the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital, where the doctors pronounced Mohammad Arsalan of Haripur, Mohammad Khursheed of Abbottabad, Asad Ali of Chakwal, and an unidentified man dead.

Mohammad Khursheed of Abbottabad was referred to the Ayub Medical Complex, Abbottabad, due to critical injuries.

Also, four people lost life as a Dasu-bound car fell into a ravine along the Karakoram Highway near Diamer-Basha Dam in Upper Kohistan district.

The deceased included Asadullah, Mohammad Khursheed, Haji Rehmat and Sanaullah, all residents of Darail area in Diamer district. Critically injured Assar Khan was shifted to a nearby hospital.

Meanwhile, a Chinese worker of the Suki Kanari hydropower project drowned in the Kunhar River in Paris area.

“Our divers are taking part in an operation jointly carried out by the Pakistan Army and Rescue 1122 to recover the body,” said Amir Khadim, a spokesman for the rescue agency.

In another incident, gunmen killed a cabbie, Mohammad Rashid, by attacking his taxi in Battle area. Also, rivals killed Gul Zareen in Jaglot area of Upper Kohistan and Mohammad Naveed in Dormera area of Torghar district.

TOURISM PROMOTION: Federal parliamentary secretary for water resources and MNA Salah Mohammad Khan has said the government is committed to promoting tourism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“The government, in line with the prime minister’s vision, is spending large sums of money on the promotion of tourism in Siren, Konsh and Manoor valleys of Mansehra district,” Mr Salah told reporters here on Friday.

He said the government had earmarked over Rs2 billion funds for the construction of roads in Manoor, Siren and Kaghan valleys to promote tourism and create employment opportunities.

Meanwhile, the district administration warned traders of strict action over lockdown violation.

“I hope that you’ll completely cooperate with the administration for the enforcement of lockdown from May 8 to May 16 and if that doesn’t happen, the law will take its course,” deputy commissioner Dr Qasim Ali Khan told trader leaders here on Friday.

Trader leader Malik Shakeel Awan said his community would extend all possible help and cooperation to the administration for the enforcement of lockdown.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2021