BAHAWALPUR: Zain Mahmood of Bahawalpur clinched first position in the qualifying round of the 12th Cholistan jeep rally at the desert around Derawar Fort Eidgah, about 70 kilometres from here, on Thursday.

Nadir Magsi and Mian Shakil Bharundi, both hailing from Sindh, bagged second and third positions respectively.

According to reports reaching here from the venue, there are 92 participants for both stock and prepared categories. They also include three teams from Kenya, Thailand and Iran. For the first time three women are participating in the event.

The qualifying stretch spread over two kilometres and prior to that physical fitness inspections of the vehicles and medical examination of the participating drivers was carried out at the venue which was decorated with banners and flags. Cholistan desert came alive with action-packed activities as thousands of people were in attendance.

Friday is the main day when the flag-off ceremony would be held.

District Police Officer Ashfaq Ahmed Khan claims that around 800 policemen have been deployed along the 470km route touching the three districts of the division.

HORSE RACE: A horse race was held at Derawar, where horses were brought from Jhelum, Khushab, Bahawalpur, Lodhran and Talagang to participate.

The horse of Farhan Afzal of Asia Riding Club was adjudged first in the race.

ENGINE FAILURE: The power of the 8-DN Tezgam failed at Adam Wahan railway station on Lodhran-Bahawalpur railway section near Empress Bridge on Wednesday midnight.

Tezgam bound for Karachi from Lahore came to a halt thus creating inconvenience to its hundreds of passengers. According to the railway staff at the Bahawalpur railway station, after restoration the engine pulled the train with difficulty up to Sammasatta railway junction, where it was replaced with a powerful locomotive.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2017