People take to beaches as city sizzles

Cool breeze, surf offer respite from hours-long power outages

KARACHI:

A large number of citizens rushed to the beaches to get respite from the hot and humid weather and enjoy cool seabreeze as homes turned into ovens due to hours long power outages.

The most accessible, though the most polluted, beach in the city, Seaview saw crowds of citizens splashing in sewage-laced water. Throwing caution to the wind, people dived in cold waves of sea polluted by filth dumped by gutter lines.

Many others enjoyed camel and horseback riding. Stall holders also earned good money due to rush of people on the beach.

Young children were also seen insisting their parents for ice cream, candy and colorful drinks.

Shahida Najeeb, a resident of Manzoor Colony, said that eight to 10 hours of power outages in many areas of the city has made their life miserable. To top it, there is not water supply too, said Najeeb as she strolled in ankle deep water whit her husband and three children.

On hot days, Seaview is a blessing, said Muzammil Hussain of Bahadurabad. He said that the government, academia, intelligentsia and the people in general have turned a blind eye to the perils of the climate change. “No one talks about climate change anymore because other issues like political instability and economic meltdown have taken the centre stage,” he said.

There is a need to plant trees to reduce the effects of climate change. With each passing year, the intensity of the heat is increasing, while the fear of heat waves has increased.

Many people said they come to Seaview to enjoy the smiles on their children. It is fun to be out in the open on the beach at least it is better than to be locked up at home during power outage, said Qasim Ali enjoying the waves with his wife and children.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2023.