Summary Dozens of people had turned to the beach for Eid celebration
KARACHI (Dunya News) – Eid celebrations have turned into mourning for several houses as at least twenty three dead bodies of people who had come to the Sea View for recreational purposes, were recovered by Thursday evening from Karachi sea, Dunya News reported.
As many as twenty three people had drowned whose bodies could be recovered. The search and rescue mission is still underway.
The ban to bath in Karachi sea could not be enforced on the occasion of Eid, resulting in thousands arriving to the Clifton and Hawke’s Bay for recreational purpose.
The divers along with other rescue workers successfully retrieved the dead bodies and handed them over to the families.
The administration had imposed ban under Section 144 on entering or bathing in the sea. However, violating the ban, thousands of people rushed towards the city beaches on the second of Eid resulting in the unfortunate incident of drowning.
Thirty people went missing as the sea waves hit the Sea View area of Karachi on Wednesday. The search operation was launched with the help of Navy helicopters as well as civil authorities who were successful in recovering twelve bodies till Wednesday midnight. The operation is still going on as Navy divers and the coast guards continue the search for drowned victims. Ten bodies have been identified and handed over to their relatives. The families of the missing victims have gathered at the beach anxiously waiting for a word from their loved ones. Security has been tightened at the beach and strict measures are being taken to prevent people from bathing in the sea. The security has appealed to the people not to defy the ban on entering the sea as during the monsoon the sea is rough and dangerous. Meanwhile, Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah has sought a detailed report about the incident.
According to the early reports, at least eleven people drowned as sea waves hit the Sea View area of Karachi on Wednesday. The Eid celebration soon turned into mourning but the city administration got itself off the hook by merely placing ‘awareness banners’ at the site.
Thousands of visitors take to the Sea View area every year in Eid for leisure and a little carelessness can prove fatal. Sea waves drowned nine people who had come at the site for leisure as part of Eid celebration.
Rescue officials arrived at the site but it was too late already. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Clifton Doctor Asad said that banners cautioning the tourists to take safety measure have been placed at Sea View but the tourists often ignore it.
Among the dead is also 14-year-old Mazhar whose uncle said that he had gone to the sea along with friends for leisure.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Wednesday urged the government to take effective steps to protect citizens’ lives and properties.
MQM chief expressed grief over drowning of 12 citizens. In a statement issued from London, he said that the government should take every step to protect citizens’ lives and properties, adding that the security arrangements must be ensured.
