Death toll in Karachi heatwave rises to over 200

KARACHI: Death toll from a devastating heatwave that has gripped Sindh for several days has led to at least 63 more deaths in the provincial capital of Karachi on Monday, taking the number of people who have died in the event during the past three days to over 200.

According to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) Medical Superintendent Dr Imran Samdani, seven people lost their lives this morning. The deaths are said to have occurred due to heat and gastro-related problems. Earlier, it was reported that 30 people had died in ASH on Saturday and Sunday. Twelve women and two children are among the dead.

Meanwhile, head of emergency department at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) Seemin Jamali told Dawn that 50 people have died since late last night. Earlier, 85 people were said to have died at JPMC since late Saturday night.

Professor N Saeed Qureshi from Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) said that there have been six more deaths at the hospital this morning, taking the death toll at CHK to 35.

According to earlier reports, at least 132 had lost their lives due to the intense weather — most of whom were pronounced dead at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), officials had said.

Saturday was the hottest day of this year’s summer in Karachi, where the mercury had shot to 45 degree Celsius. The maximum temperature of 48 degree Celsius was recorded in three districts of Sindh — Jacobabad, Larkana and Sukkur — on Saturday, which slid down to 41 on Sunday.

The officials said the city would not see any let-up on Monday (today) when temperatures are expected to go up to 44 degree Celsius.

Earlier this month, 17 people died due to a heatstroke in Sehwan during the Urs of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.



Amidst protests in the Sindh Assembly, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmaker Khawaja Izharul Hasan on Monday hit out at the local and federal governments as well as K-Electric over the heatwave crisis in Karachi that has claimed more than 200 lives.

Addressing the Sindh Assembly, a furious Hasan said that K-Electric manages to reap lakhs of money through billing and carries out various operations like Operation Burq (crackdown against electricity thieves) with the help of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) but does not have enough sense to control people.

His statement comes in light of the recent deaths in Karachi caused by a heatwave which has seen over 200 people dead.

"Crises and difficulties tell you about governments; crises tell you about the functioning of various departments," said Hasan.

Highlighting the deaths of over 2,000 people who were killed in a heatwave in India last month, the MQM lawmaker questioned as to what role the meteorological department in Pakistan is playing.



"Could a minister not have made an announcement or called a press conference; can't coordinated help be achieved through provincial governments?"