Shafaqna India: As temperatures soared in southern Pakistan, so did the death toll. The Edhi ambulance service, which typically transports 30 to 40 bodies daily to Karachi’s city morgue, collected 568 bodies over the past six days, including 141 on Tuesday alone. While the exact cause of each death is still under investigation, the surge coincided with Karachi experiencing temperatures above 40°C (104°F) and high humidity making it feel as hot as 49°C.
Hospitals, such as Civil Hospital Karachi, saw an influx of patients seeking relief from heatstroke, with 267 admissions between Sunday and Wednesday, resulting in twelve fatalities. Dr. Imran Sarwar Sheikh, head of the emergency department, noted that most patients were elderly, although some were as young as in their twenties, presenting symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and high fever.
The heatwave, described as a “partial heatwave” by meteorologists, began over the weekend, prompting the establishment of heatwave centers and camps to aid the public. Images showed children cooling off in fountains, while residents struggled with power cuts that disrupted fans and air conditioning, exacerbating conditions.
Tragically, not everyone who needed assistance reached hospitals in time. Wasim Ahmed, a 56-year-old security guard, collapsed at home after completing a 12-hour shift in oppressive heat. His family suspects a heat-related heart attack, compounded by an existing heart condition. Similarly, Muhammad Amin, in his 40s, fell ill amidst power cuts, with his family suspecting heat as a factor in his sudden death.
Reports also indicated that emergency services discovered nearly 30 bodies on Karachi’s streets, primarily among suspected drug addicts, although they showed no signs of physical injury, as reported by Police Surgeon Summaiya Syed to Dawn newspaper.
