7 more bodies of drowned persons recovered from Karachi beach

KARACHI: After rescue workers recovered seven more bodies from the Karachi beach on Thursday morning, the number of drowned persons rose to 21 since Wednesday night, Geo News reported.

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.

One of the drowned persons had been identified as 12-year old Manzar. The identities of the rest of the deceased are yet to be ascertained.

According to a Geo News correspondent, 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.

Pakistan Navy helicopters are also being used in the rescue operation.