KARACHI (SW): Sizzling hot and humid weather has claimed more than 500 lives in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province as shortage of drinking water and power breakdowns adds to the miseries in “Ramadan”, the Muslim holy month of fasting.
Over 150 people, mostly elder people and children living in poor neighborhoods lost lives over the weekend. But, as temperatures continued to cross the 40 degree Celsius, more than 300 casualties were reported by Monday evening.
According to the Met Office, Karachi has been the hottest places in Sindh province as mercury shot up to 43 degree Celsius on Monday.
Dr. Seemi Jamail, Head of the Emergency Ward in Jinah Post Graduate Medical Center (JPMC), the city’s biggest public hospital, has said that more and more patients are being brought to the hospital.
“There is no respite, more and more patients with sewer dehydration and sunstroke are being brought by the emergency ambulances,” Dr Jamali said. Similar reports emerged from three other but relatively smaller public hospitals in the city.
Saturday was the hottest day of this year’s summer in Karachi, when highest temperature of 45 degree Celsius was recorded.
According to Edhi Foundation, the country’s leading welfare organisation, their main mortuary in the city has received more than 400 dead bodies in the past 48 hours from various parts of the city.
Paramilitary Rangers Force has setup emergency support centres in worst affected areas where people have been provided with free water and medicine.
ENDS
