A pall of gloom fell over Eid festivities in Karachi because of the high number of drowning incidents reported from the city’s beaches during the holidays.

By Thursday, the bodies of at least 20 victims had been rescued while search efforts continued for a number of missing beachgoers. Most of the deaths were reported from Clifton beach, while bodies were also recovered from Hawkesbay on the city’s outskirts.

On any given Sunday, a large number of picnickers can be found at the city’s beaches to cool off by the waters of the Arabian Sea. On public holidays like Eid, the crowds grow manifold, with thousands of men, women and children heading to the coast. Yet, tragedy inevitably strikes because discipline and orderliness are not virtues the majority of Pakistanis adhere to.

For example, every year the government bans swimming in the sea during the monsoon season due to the rough waters. But few beachgoers pay heed to such warnings. People who barely know how to swim, and often accompanied by toddlers, venture into the dangerous waters without realising the risk.

When lifeguards posted by the city administration and volunteer groups warn them about the hazards, they are reprimanded and some even physically assaulted for ‘invading’ the picnickers’ personal space. The result of such recklessness is tragedies similar to what was witnessed during these Eid holidays. It is easy to blame the state, but the public also bears major responsibility for defying rules meant to save lives.

No doubt the public is at fault, but the administration too should make greater efforts to prevent drowning deaths. The number of lifeguards should be increased while female rescuers are direly needed, keeping cultural norms in mind; a larger police presence at crowded beaches can also be used to pacify unruly beachgoers.

Warning signs at the beaches and media campaigns can help highlight the dangers of swimming in rough seas during the summer months while well-equipped ambulances and field hospitals are needed at popular picnic spots to deal with emergencies.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2014