KARACHI, July 6: Seven picnickers drowned in the sea off the Cape Montz beach here on Sunday morning.

In charge of the Emergency Response Centre, Hawkesbay, Mr Zafar Khan, told Dawn over phone that a group of youngsters hailing from Ranchorelines went into the sea early Sunday morning at about 6.30am.

The group, comprising nine to 10, had came to the Cape Montz some time on Saturday night in a Suzuki.

After spending the night, the youngsters went for a swim into the sea and, according to reports, three teenagers drifted towards the deep waters.

In a bid to rescue their drowning friends, four more youth went into the deep water, but could not sustain the strong currents and were swept away.

Edhi sources said all the seven youths resided in Hoti Market, Ranchorelines.

A little after 9am, body of Khurram was recovered from the sea by the lifeguards who report to their duties at 9.00am, Mr Zafar Khan said.

Those who lost their lives are: Khurram, 18; Raheel, 17; Razzak, 18; Shahzad, 18; Samee, 18; Zeeshan, 17 and Tariq, 18.

After fishing out the body from the sea, the lifeguards handed it over to the Edhi Foundation which later handed it over to Khurram’s relatives from the Moosa Lane Centre.

All the victims were friends, some of them classmates of same college, Mr Rizwan Edhi said.

The emergency centre in charge told Dawn that the recovery operation would be resumed from 5am Monday morning.

Following the incident, the Cape Montz beach was vacated by the lifeguards.