Five fishermen drown at sea

At least five fishermen drowned when their boat capsized in the sea near the coastal area of Keti Bandar taluka of Thatta district on Wednesday.

The fishermen, hailing from Taluka Ghora Bari of District Thatta, were catching fish when their boat was hit by strong winds. As a result, the boat sank, and five fishermen drowned in the deep sea.

Gales from northeast, clocking over 30 kilometers per hour, were blowing in southern Sindh all through the day. The unfortunate boat got caught in strong winds and choppy waters and overturned.

Another nearby boat rushed to the scene after hearing the cries for help and retrieved the body of one fisherman, identified as Anees Parheri. They also rescued Mushtaq Parheri, who was unconscious, and shifted him to a nearby local hospital. The search for the missing fishermen, including Majeed Khaskheli, Manzoor Khaskheli, and one unidentified person was ongoing till the evening.

The fishing boat was owned by Mohammad Parheri, a resident of the village Misri Khan Parheri. The families have called on the authorities to assist in the search for the missing fishermen. The fishermen's community has demanded that the government help recover the bodies and provide financial support to the affected families.

Sharing his views on the tragic incident in Thatta district, Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) Chairman Mehran Ali Shah said that fishermen have been paying huge taxes and working tirelessly, but the government does not care about their safety and well-being. "They should be given proper communication tools," he emphasised.

He also demanded that the government deploy rescue teams along the coast to ensure immediate rescue operations in such situations. "Patrolling is important. This is not the first time a fishermen's boat has drowned. We have lost many fishermen. We have been urging the government to address this issue," Shah added.

He further expressed that the families were in deep pain. "No one understands the plight of the fishermen and their families. It is a modern era, yet we are still struggling to rescue our people."

Yasmeen Shah, the vice chairperson of the PFF said that the rescue work was done by the local fishing communities. "The government's response is always late," she said, adding that immediate help was needed. "We demand government to immediately contact families and update them about the rescue operation." (Additional input by PPI)