Conflicting accounts emerged for a second day on Tuesday over heat-related deaths during an intense Karachi heatwave, with rescue services reporting multiple bodies received over recent days, while the Sindh Health Department says they have seen no corresponding spike in fatalities.
Temperatures in Pakistan's largest city surged to 44.1 degrees Celsius on Monday, the highest recorded since 2018, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department. Authorities have yet to issue a consolidated figure reconciling the differing reports.
How many people have died in the Karachi heatwave?
The precise death toll remains unclear due to conflicting reports. The Chhipa Foundation said it received 19 bodies over three days, including 12 in the 24 hours between Monday and Tuesday morning. Major government hospitals, however, denied receiving significant heatstroke cases or bodies, leaving the actual number of heat-related fatalities uncertain.
Some media reports have cited more than 10 heatstroke deaths in Karachi on Monday, but accounts from rescue services and hospitals present a contrasting picture.
However, the Edhi Foundation rescue officials separately reported that eight bodies received in the last 24 hours from different parts of Karachi were of an undetermined cause of death. Leading government hospitals largely denied receiving any large-scale heatstroke-related cases.
Dr. Irfan Siddiqui, in charge of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC), said only two patients with heat exhaustion were brought in on Monday, and that no bodies had arrived at the facility.
What are Karachi hospitals reporting about heatstroke cases?
Dr. Khalid Bukhari, medical superintendent at Civil Hospital Karachi, said the hospital had not received any heatstroke cases or bodies linked to the extreme weather, describing patient inflow as routine.
At Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, emergency in-charge Dr. Sajid said two bodies were brought in on Monday that appeared to have died from heat-related causes, though he said this could not be confirmed. He added that both deceased appeared to be drug users.
In a separate statement issued on Tuesday, the hospital clarified that the two bodies were received in its Accident and Emergency Department on May 4, adding that the causes of death were not related to the heatwave.
The discrepancy between rescue service figures and hospital reports has raised questions about how heat-related deaths are being recorded and attributed during the ongoing extreme weather.
Continental winds persisted through the day across the southern port city, compounding the impact of high temperatures.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah expressed regret over the reported deaths and directed authorities to identify the deceased and trace their families.
What precautions are authorities urging during the Karachi heatwave?
The chief minister urged residents to avoid unnecessary outdoor activity and take precautionary measures during the extreme heat. Authorities have not yet issued a consolidated figure reconciling the differing accounts from rescue services and hospitals.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department confirmed Monday's temperature of 44.1 degrees Celsius was the highest in the city since 2018.
With additional input from Shayan Saleem
Comments
See what people are discussing