KARACHI, June 3: To ensure maximum safety and life saving facilities for beach goers from Sandspit to Cape Monze, all major agencies involved in rescue, including Pakistan Navy, Karachi City Government, Manora Cantt, Edhi Foundation and police have decided to form a co-ordination centre for collective efforts.
In a meeting, chaired by Commander Syed Shazad Ali of Pakistan Navy, the establishment of Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCC) was finalised, which would work till September 15.
Under the RCC, as many as 46 guards of city government and seven life guards of Manora Cantt have been provided a three-day crash course in advanced rescue techniques for victims of drowning in sea.
However, those seriously injured by rough waves, victims of blue bottle bite or anybody in need of medical support, will be provided the necessary care at Navy Medical Centre in PNS Himalya.
The meeting was attended by officers of Pakistan Navy; Chief Fire Officer of Karachi, Kazim Ali; representative of Edhi foundation and Manora Cantt; and police officials.
The participants of the meeting decided that RCC would be established at the watch-tower of PNS Himalya at Sandspit. Telephone number of RCC is 48505050, where general public and othe agencies involved in rescue operations can make a distress call on every Saturday from 3:00pm to sunset and on every Sundays and public holidays from 10:00am to sunset.
At the meeting, the Edhi foundation agreed to provide three ambulances to RCC for rescue operations.
The Emergency Response Centre (ERC) of Fire Department of City Government at Hawksbay will cover 20km long area from Cape Monze to RCC watch-tower at Sandspit with its 46 life guards. From RCC watch-tower to Y-Junction near PNS Himalya, the 18 guards of Pakistan Navy and seven of Manora Cantt will patrol.
The in-charge of ERC, Zafar Khan, has also promised to provide six guards to navy for patrolling in their area. Area police will extend their necessary support. However, in absence of Section-144, banning swimming in the sea, their role is expected to be limited.
According to a study conducted for beach development project of the defunct KDA, over 50,000 visitors come to these beaches during summer holidays, but there have been serious lacunas in rescue facilities available there.
Some of these shortcommings can be covered with pooling of resoures by all concerned agencies. However, due to hard work of all respective agencies there was not a single causality last year at these beaches from Sandspit and to Cape Monze.
Since, the ERC of fire brigade provides only first aid facilities like treating victims of blue bottle bite or handling minor injures, all those suffering from serious problems had to be taken to medical services to Civil hospital or hospitals in Kharadar.
Better mobility of patients is expected after the formation of RCC, as the ambulance of Edhi can reach navy hospital in PNS Himalya within a few minutes.
Expressing high regards to navy for taking this initiative, the ERC Chief, Zafar Khan, informed that soon after getting local volunteers from the next Sunday, he would dispatch six of the best guards for patrolling under naval command to understand the naval style of working.—PPI
