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Five people, belonging to the same family, drowned off Hawkesbay beach on Monday, police and medical officials said.
City SSP Adeel Hussain Chandio told Dawn that the five persons had drowned near Nasir restaurant.
Initially, two teenaged girls, Dua Fatima, 16, and Hamna Imran, 14, were swept to dangerous waters by strong waves, where they drowned.
Zakir Husain, 42, father of Dua Fatima, tried to rescue the girls, but drowned trying. Two other persons, namely Usama, 20, and Amin, 22, also drowned while trying to rescue the three.
Though SSP Chandio told Dawn that the bodies of all five have been retrieved, the additional police surgeon at Civil Hospital Karachi, Dr Qarar Ahmed Abbasi, said that till late Monday evening, the bodies of only Zakir Hussain and his daughter, Fatima, had been brought to the hospital for legal formalities.
The tragedy occurred despite a ban on swimming by the provincial government.
Police officials said that a large number of people head to the beaches on public holidays, making it impossible for them to cope with the situation with their limited resources.
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On DawnNews
Comments (26) Closed
Aug 14, 2017 10:41pm
Inna lillahe wainna elihe rajoon. why people go closer to water when they know that they cannot swim? why put yourself in danger ? Poor father and other two sons have no way to stay behind while two sisters /daughter were vanishing right in front of their eyes, the both sons and father did what they could not have avoided by simply staying on the side and watch them being vanished. May you find an instant place in paradise and your family a great peace.Ameen.
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Aug 14, 2017 10:49pm
I was at hawksbay on saturday,the sea is extremly dangerous nowadays we kept on sitting near the hut even there the 1 or 2 waves completly knocked us off
Request all not to go.to the beaches and if going avoid gng in deep.waters
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Aug 14, 2017 11:01pm
RIP departed souls. Please obey the law its for your own safety.
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Aug 15, 2017 12:41am
So Sad. RIP.Playing with water without knowing how ro swim is a suicide, more security guards by Giv on these points will hopefully help to keep masses controlled...
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Aug 15, 2017 12:59am
Why can't sind government take some solid measures to avoid such incidents like safety boats by navy, red light signals announcement on electronic media and there may be some fine for crossing the danger line. I think it is better to lose some money than to lose precious life.
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Aug 15, 2017 01:25am
Swimming lessons should become part of school curriculum. Kids should be taught how to swim from childhood years. I know having grown up in Karachi and now living in the West, I miss out on a lot of water sports that my kids take for granted. Additionally, Pakistani beaches should have life guards manning the beaches.
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Aug 15, 2017 01:30am
Life guards should be deployed. Total govt negligence.
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Aug 15, 2017 02:07am
Sad news indeed, but why would swimming be banned?
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Aug 15, 2017 02:17am
Please be aware as myself escaped drowning once, it is not the high waves that are dangerous but the undertoe, the under current which acts in opposition to the waves, so no matter how high or low waves are, do not go into the water if you don't know how to swim. I am a ok swimmer, still it was very hard for me to get out of the sea
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Aug 15, 2017 02:25am
Please be aware it is highly dangerous to go into the water if you don't know how to swim, I escaped a drowning incident myself and though I am a ok swimmer, it was very hard for me to get out of the waters. Actually it's not the high waves that are dangerous but the undertoe, the under current, which pulls water backwards. So no matter how high or low waves are, don't go into the water if you don't know how to swim, and if you don't know how to swim don't ever try to save a drowning person
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Aug 15, 2017 02:41am
Please be aware that it is very dangerous to go into the water if you don't know how to swim. I escaped a drowning incident last year, though I am an ok swimmer, it was still very hard for me to get out of the water. Actually it is not the high waves that are dangerous but the undertoe, it works in opposition to the waves and it will pull you into the sea, so no matter how low or high are the waves, do not go into the water if you don't know how to swim
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Aug 15, 2017 02:45am
The public awareness campaign has to be much stronger posting visible large warning signs all over. We must invest also in rescue staff and equipment (life guards). Charge higher fees to fund if you have to but such a tragic loss of lives is worth giving it a top priority and investment on safety awareness and vigilance through on site staff. This is unacceptable, we cannot afford to loose precious lives.
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Aug 15, 2017 02:56am
Everyone likes to opine.. death sees no time and place. Rather than giving opinion, those in Pakistan, specially Karachi and sea side towns should create Coast Guard posts. Volunteer networks are necessary.
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Aug 15, 2017 03:06am
if you don't know how to swim, why bother going into the water? why you have to die to know this? its just sad.
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Aug 15, 2017 03:49am
Very sad news.
Instead banning swimming, Govt should provide life safety facilities.
The responsibility goes to Govt.
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Aug 15, 2017 05:32am
Very sad to hear hear... But I don't understand why people don't realize that spot is killing point. But they still go.
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Aug 15, 2017 05:39am
Small Life jacket cost around Rs. 200 which can be provided at such places event at rent of Rs. 20 for the trip which can save precious lives of dozens of people affected every year. Commercial availability with sign boards at hotels can be made by taking deposit for returning. I personally feel so sad hearing such incidents from last more than 30 years. If no one initiates the step I suggested, I intend to purchase lots of life jackets and provide to hotel runners without any profit as I can afford.
Also I request charity/NGOs to participate in this noble cause.
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Aug 15, 2017 07:15am
Its really very sad news. Public should use common sense. City authorities should manage beach area for large tourists. These type of tourist attractions should maintain well.
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Aug 15, 2017 07:22am
It should be made law that you have to wear a life jacket if you are going to swim in the ocean ,life jackets if made in Karachi could be a good industry for someone to start,save lives and have fun swimming in the ocean.
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Aug 15, 2017 08:03am
Very unfortunate incident. People should never take chances with water or fire, since both are very unforgiving.
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Aug 15, 2017 08:19am
@Fahad Farooq
They are life guards bud---not supermen---.
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Aug 15, 2017 09:32am
I do not accept police verdict in this case. They take bribe and let families go to the beach. If there is a ban, it is the responsibility of the police to implement the law.
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Aug 15, 2017 09:34am
Hamna Imran didn't drowned, she is alive
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Aug 15, 2017 09:48am
Thoughts with the family and prayers for the departed. Finally fierce criticism for successive governments for not appointing life guards in the first place and when they did, the life guards could not even swim. Corruption of the highest order by our politicians for playing with public life.
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Aug 15, 2017 10:10am
First of all "Inna lillahe wainna elihe rajoon" may the departed souls rest in peace
secondly, i saw people commenting that its government negligence
LOL the uneducated, so called jahils awam of out nation who knows that its deep water and not for swimming they go and die there
so they deserve to die the way they act
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Aug 15, 2017 10:35am
How many shall more lives be lost before safe areas are marked and enforcement /rescue staff is posted?
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