Around 4 people have been drowned at Karachi’s Hawkesbay beach on Sunday as the authorities struggled to execute the ban imposed on swimming by the Karachi commissioner because of ongoing torrential rains and high tides in the sea.
A spokesperson for the Edhi Foundation stated that the victims were residents of Liaqutabad, mentioning that two bodies have been recovered, whereas two others remain missing.
Meanwhile, Keamari Deputy Commissioner Mukhtiar Abro identified the quartet as Nihal, 24, Ubaid, 18, Fahad, 17, and Shahrukh, 24.
Senior medico-legal officer Dr Summaiya Syed noted that Nihal and Ubaid’s bodies were recovered and rushed to Civil Hospital Karachi, but their family members took them away without completing medico-legal formalities.
The DC said the police had already installed three check posts at Sandspit, Manora and Hawkesbay where 12 police mobiles were placed to keep people from bathing in the sea. He mentioned that police had imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) but people still disobey the orders and continue moving towards the sea from dirt roads and nearby goths.
The officer has acknowledged that it was not easy to cover the lengthy coastline. Moreover, Keamari Senior Superintendent of Police Fida Husain Janwari said the police had nabbed seven people over charges of violating the ban on swimming and cases were registered against them.
The DC and the Edhi Foundation spokesperson said today’s incident came a day after two teenagers similarly drowned while swimming at Sandspit beach.
The drowning incidents occurred despite a ban on swimming imposed by Karachi Commissioner Muhammad Iqbal Memon on July 25.
As per the notification issued by the Commissioner’s office, “In view of ongoing torrential rains and high tides caused in the sea, there is apprehension that swimming, diving, bathing and boating in the sea/beaches may cause harm to public life.”
The official order further stated that, “There is a high risk of drowning incidents. Therefore, necessary measures are required to save precious lives of the general public.”
“There are sufficient grounds to proceed under Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code to avoid any untoward event of drowning and to save precious lives of the general public.
