The bodies of three fishermen have been recovered after a boat carrying five fishermen capsized off Karachi’s Sea View, rescue officials said on Tuesday.
The boat got into trouble near the Nishan-i-Pakistan monument area at Sea View on Monday, Dawn reported. Two of the fishermen were rescued safely on Monday evening.
The victims
| Fishermen on board | Outcome |
|---|---|
| 2 | Rescued alive on Monday evening |
| 3 | Went missing; bodies recovered on Tuesday |
The dead were identified as:
- Abdul Salam, 55, son of Fateh Ali
- Muna, 30
- Saeed, alias Kalu, 35
Two bodies were found first on Tuesday, and the third was recovered later in the day, Dawn reported in an update.
The bodies were taken in Edhi ambulances to Jinnah Hospital.
‘The boat developed a fault’
Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaan Ul Haseeb Khan said “the boat developed a fault at sea”, which led to the accident. He did not give further details of the fault.
The Edhi Foundation began a marine search on Monday night, soon after the boat went down. The authorities also sought the help of the Pakistan Navy and the Pakistan Coast Guard, and the search ended on Tuesday with the recovery of the third body.
The two survivors were brought ashore safely on Monday evening. Their accounts of what happened on board had not been made public by the time of reporting, and it is not known where the boat had set out from or where it was heading.
Who took part in the rescue
- Edhi Foundation: recovered bodies and moved them to hospital
- Rescue 1122: took part in the search and rescue operation
- Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Coast Guard: asked to help with the search at sea
Where it happened
Sea View, on the Clifton coast, is one of Karachi’s busiest public beaches and a popular spot for families. The Nishan-i-Pakistan monument stands on the seafront there, and fishing boats pass along the coast on their way to and from the city’s harbours.
Officials have not said whether the weather played any part in Monday’s accident. The rescue service’s account so far points to a fault with the boat, but it has not said whether the fault was with the engine or the vessel itself, or whether the fishermen had life jackets.
Other news from Karachi and beyond
In Punjab on Tuesday, a school van caught fire in Murree, injuring 11 children, while in Islamabad, the fire at PIMS hospital that killed 14 newborns remains before the courts.
Why it matters
Three men have lost their lives after a boat failed within sight of one of Karachi’s busiest beaches, and two of their colleagues survived. For the families of the men who died, the question of why the boat failed, and whether it was fit to go to sea, deserves an answer. Fishing is the livelihood of many families along Karachi’s coast, and every such accident is felt far beyond the boat itself.
This article draws on reporting by Dawn and Pakistan Times, and statements from Rescue 1122 and the Edhi Foundation.
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