Two persons drown

CHARSADDA, Aug 7: Two young men drowned in different localities here on Sunday.

Locals said Rasul Khan, a resident of Swat, drowned while taking a dip in the Tangi Canal. The body was retrieved by local divers.

Another man drowned in the Indus River near Tangi on Sunday. Residents said Gul Fazal, resident of Tangi, had gone to the river to beat the heat. The body was fished out later.

Meanwhile, a man was shot dead over a dispute on the ownership of a piece of land in the Nissatta area on Sunday. The victim was identified as Rizwanullah. His relative nominated Zahoor in the killing.

Meanwhile, a man was gunned down over a minor dispute in Shabqadar area on Sunday. The victim, Malang, was attacked allegedly by Subhan, Ameen and Fayyaz after children of the two families, stated to be relatives, clashed over a petty dispute. —Correspondent

Miner killed

KARAK, Aug 7: A miner was killed and another seriously injured after being hit by a rock slide at a salt quarry in Karat area here on Sunday.

Locals said that Gulzar, Mir Afzal and other miners, all residents of Lakh Kani, were working in the salt quarry at Karat when they were hit by a rock slide. Gulzar was killed on the spot while Mir Afzal sustained critical injuries. Other miners escaped unhurt.

The dead and the injured were retrieved by their colleagues after several hours. They were taken to the district headquarters hospital in Karak. —Correspondent

Labourers move court

MANSEHRA, Aug 7: A group of labourers has moved a local court demanding action against a contractor for refusing to pay Rs80,000 to them for their labour, and threatening them through a police official not to demand the money.

The labourer, Raja Malik Aman, in a plaint submitted to the court of civil judge/judicial magistrate, Shabir Durani, on Sunday stated that a local contractor, Yasir Khan, had hired him and his other colleagues for excavation and stone breaking work at Batdarian area.

He stated that the work, which was started on May 22, was completed on June 16, but the contractor did not pay them Rs80,000 for their labour and instead threatened them of dire consequences through the in-charge of the township police post, Mohammad Ashraf.

Raja Aman also pleaded the court to take action against the contractor and order recovery of their withheld money. —Correspondent

Fire put out

PESHAWAR, Aug 7: A fire, which engulfed Nato oil tankers and containers on Saturday evening, was extinguished on Sunday morning. Fourteen containers were destroyed in the inferno.

The fire was caused by bomb blasts on the oil tankers and containers parked at the Fauji Terminal located on the Ring Road in the limits of the Pishtakhara police station. The firefighters succeeded in extinguishing the blaze after around eight hours of hectic efforts.

A police official told Dawn the oil tankers and containers had been reduced to ashes. “No one could go near the destroyed oil tankers and containers due to severe heat”, he said.

He further said it was yet to be ascertained that how much oil and goods had been burnt in the attack. —Bureau Report

Skill development

PESHAWAR, Aug 7: The Pakistan Village Development Programme (PVDP) with the assistance of international welfare organisation, TROCAIR, has launched a skill development project for the residents of the flood affected localities of Mohib Banda union council in Nowshera district.

The project initiated under Community Empowerment and Livelihood Improvement Programme (CELIP), will provide skill to the women of Jaba Daudzai, Banda Sheikh Ismail, Momin Ghari, Banda Miangaan and Camp Koroona to enable them to earn livelihood in a dignified manner.

According to Imran Iqbal, assistant programme manager, PVDP, the organisation was providing skill to the women rendered unemployed due to devastating floods of last year. The women will be provided training in sewing, embroidery, fabric painting, flower making, ribbon work and decoration to support their male members in earning livelihood.—APP

Road reconstruction

PESHAWAR, Aug 7: The residents of various villages of Nowshera district on Sunday demanded reconstruction of Tariq Shaheed road, which was badly damaged by last year's floods.

The inhabitants of villages Mohib Banda, Dheri Mian Ishaq, Amankot and Khuderzai told APP that big ditches had emerged on the road, which required immediate reconstruction.

Elder Misal Khan, resident of Deri Mian Ishaq, said over 50,000 people were confronted with enormous problems due to dilapidated condition of the road as about 40 minutes were spent to cover just four kilometer distance while reaching Pabbi.

He requested Irrigation Minister Pervez Khattak and Parliamentary Secretary for Petroleum and Natural Resources and MNA Tariq Khan Khattak to start reconstruction work on the road as early as possible.—APP