KARACHI: In a frantic search and rescue operation that has brought stark realities of swimming safety to the fore, four family members drowned at Manora Beach on Saturday while out on a family outing.
The identified victims are siblings Moazz, who was 24 years of age; Hafsa, 20 years of age; and 18-year-old Hiba, all belonging to Arshad Imam. The fourth one remains missing- Ghulam Mustafa, also 24 years of age, who is stated to be Hafsa’s fiancé. The family had come from Federal B Area Block 9 to the beach to spend a merry day of fun and recreation that turned out to be a disastrous one for them.
According to preliminary reports, the accident occurred between huts 65 and 67, near the Hawk’s Bay beach where the family had chosen to swim. In their accounts, the witnesses said the group was only playing in the water when they started experiencing problems that called for a dreadful plea for help.
Rescue teams consisting of Edhi divers and others were informed and rushed to the place with all haste. Even though the rescue operation was urgent, the bodies of Moazz, Hafsa, and Hiba could only be recovered after several hours of massive search operations. Subsequently, the bodies of the children were sent to the hospital for medico-legal formalities.
Even as the anxiously waiting family of Ghulam Mustafa expressed disappointment that no immediate rescue support was drawn in, rescues were reportedly delayed as relatives claim to have made repeated calls throughout the night before the divers could search properly for Mustafa the next day.
Cousins described him as an affectionate son and husband. Mustafa only had been married for more than one year and did not have any children. His family, therefore, is left trying to cope with double pain after losing not only a great member of the family but also a future perceived by them with that family member.
The tragic drowning incident at Manora Beach is not an isolated case. It happened just days after a series of similar mishaps occurred at Karachi’s Seaview and Hawke’s Bay beaches where nine people drowned and several others were rescued. The manifold increase in drowning incidents has therefore raised alarm among local authorities as well as among beachgoers.
On the same day, rescue officials recorded six who drowned at Hawke’s Bay, and a lady and a man were rescued in critical condition. At Seaview’s Chunky Munky, three others reportedly drowned. Such events have elicited safety concerns since cases have risen where several people, yet again, try swimming at crowded and unsupervised beaches.
These incidents, therefore call for increased security measures at beaches, incorporating lifeguards, marked swimming zones, public awareness campaigns of the dangers of swimming in unfamiliar waters, and other safety measures. The family members finding time to go out for recreation should therefore not be held at ransom by man’s expected recreational prowess.
The tragic loss witnessed by the Imam family is a wake-up call so the world can awaken to new ideas and bring dangers held behind seemingly innocuous ventures into the limelight. This is a disaster that resonates within the community, which has called for action on behalf of the community to prevent further such disasters.
As the search for Ghulam Mustafa continues, the community expresses sadness about the fate of the Imam siblings and stands by the bereaved family. Hopefully, this tragic incident will be a wake-up call for better vigilance and safety measures at Karachi public beaches.
With such a loss, families should take more interest in security while playing at the beach and ensure that such an event never occurs again.
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