KARACHI:
A city by the ocean has its personal allure – starting from the gorgeous view of sea, to hypnotic sunrises and sunsets, mesmerising music of tides, and a laid-back environment. It is not with out dangers although: coastal cities are susceptible to disasters similar to cyclones, storm surges, flooding, and erosion.
Fortunately, Karachi has largely been spared by sea-induced calamities. Some would attribute it to town’s patron saint, Abdullah Shah Ghazi whose shrine is nestled on a mound a stone’s throw from the ocean.
That apart, the ocean devours a number of lives yearly as beachgoers and revelers enterprise deep into the waters disregarding official warnings and dangers concerned.
Within the 12 months 2024, as many as 185 beachgoers and revelers – together with girls and youngsters – have died by drowning within the metropolis, in response to the statistics launched by the Edhi Basis on Friday. Nonetheless, these figures aren’t restricted to drowning within the sea; in addition they embody drowning incidents within the metropolis’s rivers, canals, and wells as properly.
The best variety of drowning deaths occurred through the summer time months of June and July as 48 individuals drowned throughout this two-month interval alone, reveals the Edhi Basis report.
As per the breakdown, six drowning deaths had been reported in January; 9 in February; 21 in March; 19 in April; 22 in Could; 24 in June; 24 in July; 17 in August; 15 in September; 13 in October; eight in November; seven in December (till Dec 20). “Victims in these incidents included individuals of all ages – from kids to youngsters and adults,” added a spokesperson for the Edhi Basis.
Beachgoers and revelers have repeatedly been warned by the Edhi Basis in addition to police to take higher preventive measures to scale back the frequency of drowning incidents, which proceed to assert the lives annually.
These statistics within the Edhi Basis report once more highlights the significance of water security, significantly through the summer time months when the chance of drowning will increase manifolds.
The Edhi Basis, together with different organisations, continues to advocate for higher consciousness campaigns, stronger security rules round our bodies of water, and extra accessible rescue providers.