Karachi has been gripped by a severe heatwave, leading to a tragic surge in heat-related illnesses and fatalities across the city. Jinnah Hospital has confirmed an alarming increase with 31 new cases of heat stroke and one fatality attributed to the extreme temperatures. Meanwhile, Civil Hospital has recorded a staggering 348 cases of heat stroke since the beginning of June, resulting in 12 deaths. Particularly distressing spikes were observed on June 24, which saw 8 fatalities, and June 26, with 4 deaths reported.
Over the past 24 hours alone, Jinnah Hospital’s emergency ward has been inundated with 1,592 individuals affected by the heatwave. Tragically, 20 of these patients lost their lives during treatment, while 29 were pronounced dead on arrival. Commissioner Karachi, Syed HasanNaqvi, addressed public concerns by refuting reports of widespread casualties, acknowledging 10 deaths within Karachi division over a two-day period. This underscores the critical need for immediate measures to mitigate the impact of extreme heatwaves on public health and safety in Karachi.
