22 die as boat carrying 50 people capsizes in Thatta

SUKKUR: Tragedy struck when a boat carrying pilgrims capsized in the sea near the coast of Bohara town, claiming the lives of as many 22 people while over 60 others were reported missing till late night.

The passengers were on their way to attend an Urs at Dargah Mir Shah, located in Bohara, on Thursday. Women and children were also among the devotees. The boat reportedly overloaded with large number of devotees gave in due to gusty winds. Police confirmed 22 deaths, while several were reported to be missing. A rescue operation was started by divers from the Pakistan Navy and other organisations.

District Chairman Thatta, Ghulam Qadir Palejo, said 35 devotees were rescued by a team of Pakistan Navy divers but the rescue operation had to be stopped due to night and would resume early morning Friday. Most of the victims belonged to Sakhro, Thatta and Malir in Karachi.

M. Waqar Bhatti adds from Karachi: As many as nine people, including five women and four children, rescued in the open sea off Thatta were brought to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center and the National Institute of Child Health for treatment, Sindh health department officials said.

"We received eight injured from the Thatta district. Three children were sent to the NICH, while five women were brought to JPMC, all of whom were discharged after initial treatment," Dr. Salman, Deputy Director at JPMC, told The News. "Four children aged between 2 to 5 years were brought to the NICH, of whom condition of an infant is critical," he said. He said lungs of all the children were affected due to drowning and they were treated in the ICU.

Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah directed the deputy commissioner and SSP Thatta to start the rescue operation and commissioner Hyderabad to monitor the rescue operation. Agency adds: The JPMC doctors said a child Owais, son of Elahi Bux, died during treatment at the hospital.