Four family members drown off Manora Beach

A family picnic turned into tragedy on the Manora Beach near Hawkesbay when four members drowned while swimming in the sea on Saturday.

Among those who drowned were two sisters and their brother. Rescue teams have recovered three bodies, while the search for the fourth individual continues.

The incident occurred when the family, consisting of six members, was enjoying a day by the water. Upon receiving reports of the drowning, police and rescue volunteers, including divers, quickly arrived on the scene to conduct search operations.

After several hours, the bodies of two sisters, 20-year-old Hafsa and her sister Hiba, along with their brother, 24-year-old Moiz, were retrieved from the sea. The fourth victim, 24-year-old Ghulam Mustafa, identified as Hafsa's fiancé, remained missing. The recovered bodies were confirmed to be siblings, and their family hailed from Block 9, Federal B Area, near Dastagir.

Rescue officials were continuing their search for Mustafa. Following the completion of formalities, the three bodies were returned to the grieving family.