MANSEHRA: The district administration on Thursday began the evacuation of families settled along rivers and streams here fearing flash floods could harm them.

Deputy commissioner Adnan Khan Behttani told patwaris and rescue officials during a meeting here that the fresh rain spell could trigger floods, so all families living along the Kunhar, Indus and Siren rivers should immediately be shif ted to safer places.

He asked participants not to allow tourists to go beyond Kaghan valley in case of inclement weather and landslides.

The DC said Rescue 1122 and tehsil municipal administrations of Mansehra, Balakot, Oghi, Darband and BaffaPakhal would remain on a high alert round the clock to deal with any emergency.

He also directed relief agencies to get ready for quick yet effective response to any untoward situation and warned that of ficials found to be negligent of their duties would be dealt with strictly.

Also in the day, assistant commissioner Qamar Zia paid surprise visits to filling stations and sealed 10 of them over fuel fraud.

He said fuel dispensers were tampered with to fleece customers by supplying less petroleum products than what was displayed on meters.

The AC said the crackdown on fuel fraud was launched over the people`s complaints and would continue until fuel meters of all filling stations in the district were checked. Correspondent