Islamabad, Aug 1 (IANS): Rescue teams have retrieved bodies of 33 people who drowned over the last three days at different recreational points while bathing in the rough seas off Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi, media reported Friday.
Citing Express TV, Xinhua reported that several people are still missing and a search operation is being conducted by teams of Pakistan Navy, Sindh Police and non-governmental organisations.
Talking to the media, Shoaib Siddiqui, the commissioner of Karachi, said the victims defied a ban imposed by authorities to stop people from bathing in the sea water due to the monsoon season.
He said reports of drowning of people surfaced Tuesday when people approached the police and welfare organisations to help find their missing relatives who had gone to the beach.
Police said over 40 complaints were registered at various police stations of the city after which the search operation was kicked off.
Several people are still believed to be missing at the sea but their exact number is not known yet.
Police had closed all the roads to Sea View and other beaches by Wednesday afternoon and stopped tourists from getting to the beaches after reports of drowning.
President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed condolences to the families of the victims.