Four picnickers drown at Hawke's Bay on I-Day

Four bodies, including that of a minor, were fished out from separate drowning incidents at Hawke's Bay, Hub Dam and Hub River over the past two days, rescue officials said on Friday. According to the Edhi Foundation, 30-year-old Asad Nawab and 26-year-old Faizan drowned while swimming in Hub Dam on Thursday. Their bodies were retrieved by divers Friday morning.

Relatives said the two were neighbours and had gone for a swim together. Funeral prayers were offered after Friday prayers, followed by burial in the local graveyard. Both men were married, and Faizan was the father of a young daughter.

Rescue officials also recovered the body of 12-year-old Huzaifa, who drowned in Hub River on Thursday. The family took the body without completing police formalities.

In another incident, two youths drowned at Manora Point near Hawke's Bay while swimming in the sea. On Friday evening, divers recovered the body of 25-year-old Waseem from Turtle Beach near Hut No 105. However, the search for 20-year-old Zakir had to be suspended at nightfall and will resume on Saturday.

Officials said the victims were part of a group of five friends from Ranchore Line who had gone to Manora Point for a picnic. Lifeguards managed to rescue the other three - Kashif, Saleem and Gulfam - after a strenuous effort.

Drowning of picnickers at city's beaches is common because most of them don't know how to swim and enjoy splashing only in waist deep water. However, they get swept away by high tides and are unable to swim back ashore.

Each year, Karachi commissioner imposes a ban on swimming during the summers to prevent drowning incidents. Nevertheless, people rush to the beaches on holidays, throwing caution to the wind and risking their lives.