KARACHI: Despite the fact that Section 144 had been imposed to ban bathing in the rough sea during the monsoon season and countless verbal and written warnings to the public issued by the government, the Eid holidays saw thousands heading to the beaches, making the police and other security agencies, including the volunteers, work extra hard.

On the third day of Eid on Wednesday, just like on the first two days, there were again hoards of people arriving by private vehicles and in rented vans and pickups looking to cool off in the sea breeze and wetting their feet in tides. The constables patrolling the beach remained alert as did the DHA vigilance teams.

“We explain about the rough sea to them. Many understand and back off from the water, thank God! But there are also others who challenge us and tell us to get lost,” said one policeman at the wheel of a mobile van. “We have just returned after dropping off one man, who just refused to see reason, at the Darakhshan police station, and I’m sure we are going to come across many more of his kind by this evening. And women are even more difficult than men,” he said.

A family getting off a rented van happily got busy folding up their trousers and shalwars as they prepared to get their feet wet in the water. A female volunteer with a stick noticed and approached them with a warning to which they seemed annoyed. “How can just wetting your feet in the tides be dangerous. It is not as if we are going to go dive into the ocean. We are sensible, educated people. We do know the meaning of rough sea,” said one of the women in the group.

The volunteer said that they could not afford to make exceptions for anyone. “If we allow some to get their feet wet, we will soon have everyone wanting to do it and then one thing will lead to another and we’ll have a big problem handling everyone,” Shazia Parveen, the volunteer said.

“We came here all the way from Orangi Town. Seaview and Clifton beaches are within reach of the people so most of us like to come here to enjoy their holiday. For those who don’t have their own transport, reaching Hawkesbay and Sandspit becomes too costly. At least let us go near the water on our holiday. What else has Karachi got to offer other than the sea and now we are also being prevented from bathing in the sea,” said an elderly picnicker.

“We send away hundreds only to find a fresh wave of people coming in to whom we have to explain the dangers of the rough sea,” said a DHA vigilance volunteer. “The tides are coming in at a greater frequency. As evening falls, it will be high tide and the people have to be pushed back further,” he added.

The food vendors were also happy to see so much deployment of police and others for the safety of the people. “At first, we were also a bit worried that they will also scold us for nothing. But no, they are only here to help the picnickers and look out for them,” said Mohammad Ayub selling cold drinks that he was cooling in ice in orange flasks. “Taking the sea out of the equation brings what we have to offer to the public more into focus,” he said laughing. “They turn their attention to other things at the beach such as our food, camel and buggy rides.”

ASI Khamiso Khan Channa, in charge of the Seaview checkpoint wore a deep tan. “It is from patrolling the beach for the last three days,” he said smiling. “We have been here in full force with the mounted police, men in police cars, on motorbikes and mobiles making up the Shaheen Force all keeping vigilant,” he said. “Yes, we have had to hear all kinds of things, especially from women. But we have been adamant for their own good,” he said. “And at home our children and wives are also unhappy with us for not being home for Eid. All these picnickers so mad at us for not letting them near the water have no idea how much we are sacrificing for their safety this Eid,” he said before becoming a little quiet.

During the Eid holidays in 2014, some 23 beachgoers drowned off Seaview. This year the Sindh government has imposed Section 144 on all beaches while warning of strict action against those found bathing in the sea.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2017