KARACHI, Aug 22: At least four picnickers drowned and as many others were rescued by lifeguards at different beaches in the city on Tuesday.

Edhi sources said that a group of 10-12 friends living in the Godhra Camp area of New Karachi had gone to the Sandspit beach for a picnic on the second day of Eid.

Four of them — Junaid, 30, Tariq, 28, Farhan, 32 and Moid, 13 — were swept away by strong currents in the afternoon.

The sources said that they drowned while trying to save one another.

After a hectic search, lifeguards and divers deployed at the beach succeeded in fishing out the four bodies in the evening.

The tragedy sent a wave of shock and grief across the Godhra Camp area when the bodies of the four victims were taken to their homes.

According to the police, the bereaved families did not allow the legal formalities to be carried out before the victims’ burial.

Meanwhile, lifeguards deployed at the Hawkesbay beach on Tuesday rescued another four persons after they were swept away by strong currents.

They were taken to the KMC rescue centre set up at the beach and provided first aid.  A huge rush of picnickers was witnessed at the beaches of the city during the Eid holidays.