Rescuers pull out bodies of two drowning victims

The bodies of two people who drowned a day ago were recovered by rescue officials on Thursday from the Clifton and Gulshan-e-Sikandarabad beaches.

SHO Darakhshan police station, Ehsan Zulfiqar, said 15-year-old Syed Muhammad drowned at the Clifton beach while on a picnic with his family. His body was handed over to the family following completion of legal formalities.

The body of an unidentified man appearing to be 33 years of age was recovered from the sea near Gulshan-e-Sikandarabad.

SHO Docks police station, Qaiser Sanjrani, said the identity of the deceased could not be ascertained. The body has for now been placed at the Edhi morgue for want of identification.

With the recovery of the two bodies, the total count of drownings reported in May reached 19.

It was on Wednesday that the Sindh government was compelled to impose a ban on bathing in the sea off Karachi’s beaches for six months.

A notification to this effect was issued by Home Secretary Qazi Shahid Pervez, a day after six people died by drowning off the Sandspit beach and Do Darya. Four of the victims were schoolboys.

The notification said the ban had been imposed over reports that due to the high temperatures in the city, people were visiting various beaches and swimming in the sea, and several people had lost their lives due to turbulent waves.

It said that the decision had been taken to ensure the safety of public. “Now, therefore, the Government of Sindh, in exercise of the powers under Section-144 CrPC, do hereby impose complete ban on wading through/swimming/diving in the sea at the beaches of Karachi for a period of six months with immediate effect.”

In pursuance of Section 195 (i) (a) of CrPC, the SHOs of the relevant police stations have been authorised to register complaints under Section 188 of the PPC against violators of the ban order.

“The Senior Superintendent of Police concerned shall ensure through their respective field staff that this order is complied with in letter and spirit.”