ISLAMABAD, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Twelve people were drowned while swimming in Arabian Sea off Pakistan's southern Karachi city on Saturday, local reports quoted rescue teams and officials as saying.
The dead, including two women, went for picnic at Hawkes Bay Beach of the sea and drowned while swimming in the Hawkes Bay, said Faisal Edhi, head of the non-government organization Edhi Foundation which carried out rescue operation.
Sohail Anwar Siyal, home minister of Sindh, said that police stopped the family from swimming in the sea, but they ignored them and proceeded to the rough sea.
Chief Minister of Sindh Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident and directed additional inspector general police to submit a report.
Hawkes Bay is one of the famous beaches in the city, which turns notorious for drowning during the monsoon season every year.
Authorities stop people from bathing in the sea during the monsoon season, but some of the tourists ignore their advice, which leads to casualties every year.
Last month, three Saudi nationals including a senior diplomat's son were killed while swimming in the sea off Hawkes Bay.
