At least three fishermen are missing after their boats capsized in rough sea close to Ibrahim Haideri shoreline, as locals continue rescue efforts without the government's assistance, fishermen said on Saturday. Two boats each had six fishermen aboard capsized on Friday after being hit by strong sea waves in Korangi creeks close to Ibarhim Haider coast, they said.
"They were on way back to coast after fishing," they said. All the missing fishermen belong to one family, they said, adding that despite several calls for help to rescue the drowned crewmembers, no government coastal or maritime departments responded. "We are carrying out rescue operations by themselves as there is no government's concerned department to help us to find the missing fishermen," they regretted. The missing fishermen are feared dead, as until now [late Saturday evening] no traces found to the rescuers about them, they said.
The crew of one fishing boat was immediately rescued by the passing vessels, but three out of six hunters of the misfortune Al-Rehman boat could not be saved, they said. The missing fishermen including Abdul Kareem s/o Yousuf, Abdul Ghani s/o Tayyab and Adam s/o Ibrahim belong to one family, they said. Other three members of the same family including Yousuf s/o Ibrahim, Siddiq s/o Ibrahim and Abid s/o Yousuf were immediately rescued after their boat hit by waves. The fishermen are hailing from Omer Colony of Ibrahim Haideri. Fishing at seas during July is banned every year by the Sindh Fisheries Department because of the rough sea.
There are thousands of fishing boats moored at the coast due to the rough sea but some however continue to risk their lives to set sail towards seas for hunting ahead of Eid. "The poor fishermen will make it sure to maintain their families despite there is an official ban on fishing in July as they have to do shopping for Eid too," locals said. Karachi's fishermen continue demanding of the government for financial assistance for the poor ones during the ban period every year so that they could maintain their families without risking their lives.