Two friends drown off Gadani coast

A picnic trip to the coast turned into heartbreak after two young friends from Lahore drowned in the sea near Gadani while trying to save one another during a group outing.

According to volunteers of Edhi Foundation, five friends had travelled from Baldia Town's Market 24 area to Gadani for a picnic when the incident occurred. While bathing in the rough waters, the group became trapped in the sea. Three of them managed to survive, while two youth went missing in the waves.

Rescue teams rushed to the scene after receiving information about the incident. After hours of search efforts, Edhi divers recovered the body of 23-year-old Hammad on Friday night. However, the search for his 17-year-old friend Mohsin had to be suspended due to darkness.

The rescue operation resumed on Saturday morning, and Mohsin's body was later found near rocks along the coastline. Both victims were close friends and residents of Lahore who had come to Karachi to stay with relatives near Market 24 in Baldia Town.

Edhi volunteer Waqar said the tragedy had left the families devastated, especially as Hammad's father had passed away only a few weeks earlier. He added that Hammad was also expected to get married soon.

Following legal formalities and funeral preparations, the bodies of both youth were handed over to their families and flown to Lahore on Saturday evening for burial.