Rescue workers recovered eight more bodies from the Karachi beach on Friday, raising death toll of the drowned persons to 36 since Wednesday night.
Eight more drowned bodies of Eid picnickers were retrieved from the seashore on Friday morning here taking the death toll thus far to 36, while Pakistan Navy still continuing their rescue operation through their helicopters and divers in the rough sea.
The rescue operation, which was discontinued last evening for lack of visibility, started again on Friday morning, while 7 more bodies have been retrieved thus far making the total drowned during the last three days to 31.
Among the bodies recovered this morning include those of Moinuddin and Junaid who were identified as uncle and nephew respectively.
According to details, citizens kept bathing and swimming in the sea throughout Eid holidays in violation of the ban imposed by the provincial administration on such activities in the monsoon season.
However, the relations of the missing persons and those found drowned during rescue complained there were no divers posted for rescue nor enough police was deployed to keep the Eid picnickers restrained from crossing the red line.
Despite a ban on swimming in the sea, more than a dozen persons drowned at Clifton beach in the provincial capital on the second day of Eid-ul-Fitr. Three of the victims were members of the same family and their bodies have been sent back to their ancestral area.
According to sources at rescue services, the bodies of the deceased were shifted to Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre for completion of medico-legal formalities. Citizens kept bathing and swimming in the sea throughout the day in violation of the ban imposed by the provincial administration on such activities in the monsoon season. However, people of all ages from the city and those coming from other parts of the country flock to seaside in large numbers to celebrate Eid with friends and family.
Navy helicopters are also being used in the rescue operation.
Commissioner Karachi, Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, said it is hard to stop people from bathing in the sea despite ban on it because the coastal area is very wide, therefore, keeping eye on the entire beach is difficult.
Taking notice of the incident, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah and City Administration have closed the routes leading to the sea view.
Meanwhile, report of drowning of 23 people has been registered at Boat Basin Police Station.