Seven Dow students swept away in Manora Beach tragedy

Seven final-year medical students were swept away by strong waves in the Arabian Sea while swimming off Manora Beach near PNS Himalaya on Wednesday. Three of them were confirmed dead, three were rescued, and one remains missing and a search operation is underway.

According to police and hospital officials, three students drowned on the spot, while three were rescued from the sea in an unconscious state. They were first shifted to a nearby private clinic and later transferred to the Civil Hospital’s Trauma Centre by Edhi ambulances.

Speaking to reporters outside the morgue, Dow Medical College Principal Dr Saba Sohail said that the final-year students had been given the day off. On Wednesday morning, 150 students of the final-year D-26 batch went to Hawke’s Bay for a picnic as part of traditional end-of-session celebrations under the supervision of faculty members and security guards. All of them returned safely.

However, she added that a group of 15 students from the same batch had organised a separate picnic on their own at PNS Himalaya, Manora, through the father of one of the deceased students, without informing the institution or obtaining the college’s permission.

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One of the students was swept away by a wave; the other students ran to save him, as a result of which Ahmed Kashif, Muhammad Ashar Munir, and Syed Ashhad Abbas Fatemi drowned, and their bodies were brought to the morgue of the Civil Hospital. “We have received the bodies of three students, two are being treated at the Civil Hospital Trauma Centre, and one is in the ICU. One student is still missing, and the search continues,” Dr Saba said.

The deceased were identified as Ahmed Kashif, Muhammad Ashar Munir, and Syed Ashhad Abbas Fatemi, while the rescued students were named Rizwan, Rabi, and Abdul Majeed.

Hospital sources said Abdul Majeed was admitted to the Medical ICU in critical condition, while the other two were out of danger. Dr Saba further added that the families of all affected students, except for the one in the ICU, had been contacted. She described the incident as a "great tragedy and a dark day" for Dow University.

The university has announced that a condolence meeting will be held for the deceased students on Friday at 9am in the Moin Auditorium. Upon receiving the news, the families of the victims and college officials quickly rushed to the hospital.

According to the survivors, the group was playing with a ball on the beach when it drifted into the sea. One student attempted to retrieve it but was swept away by the strong waves. Others who tried to rescue him were also pulled under.

Meanwhile, Dr Khalid Bukhari, the Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital, confirmed that three bodies and three injured students had been brought to the hospital. He added that two of the injured students were out of danger, while one remained in critical condition.