At least nine more bodies of men who had ventured into the seas during the Eid holidays were recovered on Friday, raising the death toll in the Clifton beach tragedy to 36. Although Navy's search operation was still continuing, family members of the victims of beach tragedy on Friday evening lost hope for the survival of their beloved ones.
According to police sources, rescuers recovered 12 bodies on Wednesday, 15 on Thursday night, while nine more bodies which were recovered on Friday, have been shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) for medico-legal formalities. Two victims of the tragedy were identified as Moinuddin and his nephew Junaid.
Meanwhile, a senior police officer, Naseer, who was looking after the rescue operation at the beach, told Business Recorder that at least seven bodies were recovered on Friday morning. Giving further details, he said that 24 bodies had been handed over to their families after completion of medico-legal formalities, while the identity of eight bodies was yet to be ascertained. "We are expecting that at least three more bodies will be recovered from deep sea water and, as such, the rescue operation was still under way."
During a visit to the Sea View beach on Friday, this correspondent saw that a number of people, including men and women, were waiting for the missing bodies of their near and dear ones while dozens of people were seen rushing towards bodies of victims upon their recovery from the sea by Navy's helicopter.
A body of a young man aged between 25 and 30 years which remained floating on the surface of the sea for a long time could not be identified by relatives at a rescue camp set up at the beach. The body was later shifted to JPMC for post-mortem examination.
Fozi-ul-Rehman from Mansehra's Kaladhaka told Business Recorder that he had lost two cousins - Zambar Khan and Zia-ul-Rehman - in the tragedy. Body of Zambar Khan has been recovered on Thursday whereas Ziaul Rehman was still missing, he added.
Expressing satisfaction over the rescue operation being conducted by the Navy personnel, he said that the divers of the Navy have been carrying out their swift rescue operation since Tuesday when this tragedy occurred. However, he criticised the government, especially police department, saying that they failed to fulfil their duty in protecting the lives of the citizens.
He was of the view that imposing Section 144 was not enough as people lacked awareness about laws.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) deputy convenor Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui during his visit to the Sea View beach told media that government should conduct a thorough investigation in to the incident.
Expressing his condolence with families of the victims of the tragedy, he prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed souls in eternal peace and give fortitude to the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss.
An official of Navy said that the civic authorities should launch a sustained awareness campaign to avoid such incidents in future. The rescue operation which was temporarily suspended on Friday night would resume on Saturday morning.