MANSEHRA: A tourist from Lahore died after drowning in the Kunhar River here on Monday. The incident occurred when Faisal Saleem, who was in his 30s, slipped into the river in Naran area of Kaghan valley.

The deceased had come to the region with family on an excursion and had been staying at a Naran hotel. The local people later fished out the body and handed it over to the family, which tool< it to Lahore for final rituals.

The Kaghan police registered an FIR and began investigation to ascertain the cause of the incident.

The district administration has banned tourists from bathing in Kunhar River and even from going closer to it.

Also in the day, a young boy was run over and killed by a speeding car in Ander Bella area of Kaghan valley. The local police said the incident took place when Mubashar Javed was crossing the road.

They said the boy suffered critical injuries and later succumbed to them on the way to a nearby hospital. The car`s driver fled after the incident.

The police registered an FIR and began a search for the suspected killer.

However, his arrest was not made until the night.

CATTLE MARKET AUCTIONED: The Mansehra tehsil municipal committee on Monday auctioned the cattle market and lavatory contracts here. Tehsil municipal officer Asmatullah and revenue officer Amjad Iqbal conducted the bidding for financial year 2015-16. The cattle market contract was awarded for Rs130 million and that of lavatories for Rs5 million.

Amjad Iqbal told reporters that the amount of contracts was higher than that reported last year.

He said the administration would ensure early reopening of choked sewers and nullah in the city and its suburbs.

CORRUPTION RATE DECLINED: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa anti-corruption establishment director Ziaullah Turu on Monday claimed the corruption rate had drastically declined in the province die to his department`s effective work.

`I appreciate you over arrests and recovery of plundered money from corrupt elements. Your good work has significantly reduced corruption rate in our province compared to Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan,` Turu told the circle heads and assistant directors from 25 district of the province here. Correspondent