THATTA, June 2: Panic and lack of coordination delayed launching of an operation to rescue 26 persons who drowned in Keenjhar Lake on Sunday, investigation by this correspondent revealed.

The picnickers had opted for camping at an island in the lake.

The boat hired by the picnickers was driven by a teenaged boy, Ibrahim Gandhro. He initially dropped the men members of the party and its goods at the island.

During its second trip, the remaining 26 picnickers boarded the boat though Gandhro insisted that it would be difficult for him to drive the overloaded boat.

As they were approaching the island, the picnickers asked the driver to take a lengthy U-turn. As the boat was negotiating the U-turn, the travellers rolled towards one side as a result Gandhro lost control over the boat which subsequently capsized.

It took some time for people at the lake bank to take notice of the plight of drowning people.

When they heard the screams, some of the picnickers quarrelled with boatmen and other local people who refused to dive for rescuing drowning people.