KARACHI:
At least five fishermen drowned when their boat capsized in the sea near the coastal area of Keti Bandar taluka of Thatta district on Wednesday.
The fishermen, hailing from Taluka Ghora Bari of Thatta district, were fishing when their boat was hit by strong winds. As a result, the boat sank and five fishermen drowned in the deep sea.
Northeasterly gales of more than 30 kilometers per hour blew in southern Sindh all day. The unfortunate boat became caught in strong winds and rough waters and capsized.
Another nearby boat rushed to the scene after hearing cries for help and recovered the body of a fisherman, identified as Anees Parheri. They also rescued Mushtaq Parheri, who was unconscious, and shifted him to a nearby local hospital. The search for the missing fishermen, including Majeed Khaskheli, Manzoor Khaskheli and an unidentified person, continued into the evening.
The fishing boat was owned by Mohammad Parheri, a resident of Misri Khan Parheri village. The families have asked the authorities to help in the search for the missing fishermen. The fishing community has demanded the government to help recover the bodies and provide financial support to the affected families.
Sharing his views on the tragic incident in Thatta district, Pakistan Fishermen’s Forum (PFF) president Mehran Ali Shah said that fishermen have been paying huge taxes and working tirelessly, but the government does not care their safety and well-being. “They must be given adequate communication tools,” he emphasized.
He also demanded that the government deploy rescue teams along the coast to ensure immediate rescue operations in such situations. “Patrolling is important. This is not the first time a fishermen’s boat has drowned. We have lost many fishermen. We have been urging the government to address this issue,” Shah added.
He also expressed that the families were suffering deep pain. “No one understands the plight of the fishermen and their families. It is a modern era, but we are still fighting to rescue our people.”
Yasmeen Shah, vice-president of the PFF, said the rescue work was carried out by local fishing communities. “The government’s response is always late,” he said, adding that immediate help is needed. “We demand the government to immediately contact the families and inform them about the rescue operation.” (Additional contribution from PPI)
