Karachi: Siblings drown as residents flock to beaches after lockdown restrictions end

KARACHI: Two siblings drowned and a third person went missing on Sunday, as a large number of people flocked to the city's beaches after the coroanvirus lockdown restrictions were lifted by the government last week. 

According to The News, a 20-year-old man was overpowered by the sea's waves while he was attempting to save his sister, who was swept by the waves. Both siblings drowned. 

Maria, 16, was with her family at the Hawke's Bay beach for a picnic when she downed in the sea and her brother, who tried to rescue her, also lost his life. 

Police said lifeguards took out the bodies that were moved to the Civil Hospital Karachi for medico-legal formalities. The bodies were later handed over to the family. Omair was studying associate engineering and Maria was a student of the 10th grade. They were residents of Korangi. 

In another unfortunate incident, 18-year-old Hamza, son of Younus, drowned at the Sandspit beach. His body, however, is yet to be found.

Police said the teenager was resident of Baldia Town and he went to the beach for a picnic with his friends and family members. A search and rescue operation, that was stopped at sunset, would resume on Tuesday morning (today), said police.

Despite a ban on bathing in the sea, a large number of Karachiities showed up at the Hawkesbay beach on the first Sunday after the end of the lockdown restrictions.