The city of Karachi continues to suffer under oppressive heat and humidity, with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius for the fourth consecutive day. On Wednesday, the intense heat claimed the lives of four individuals, as confirmed by officials from Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK).
Rising heatwave casualties
Wednesday also saw the recovery of six more bodies from various parts of Karachi, increasing the death toll to 35 over the past four days. While the exact causes of these deaths are yet to be fully determined, the ongoing heatwave is suspected to be a significant factor.
CHK declared four deaths directly resulting from heatstroke. Concurrently, the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) reported treating 37 heatstroke patients, including 12 women, within a 24-hour period. The Indus Hospital also admitted 13 heatstroke patients on the same day.
Conflicting reports on heatwave deaths
The Sindh health department reported eight heat-related deaths in Karachi over the past month, primarily among drug addicts and homeless individuals. However, Karachi Commissioner Hasan Naqvi provided different figures, stating that 10 people had died due to heatstroke on Monday and Tuesday alone.
In a media briefing, Commissioner Naqvi detailed that eight fatalities occurred on Monday and two on Tuesday. He also noted that 147 individuals suffering from heatstroke were admitted to various hospitals on Tuesday, with all but two being discharged after recovery. He acknowledged a slight increase in the city’s mortality rate, attributing it to the extreme weather conditions.
Efforts to mitigate the impact
Commissioner Naqvi has urged K-Electric to minimise load shedding during the heatwave, emphasising the critical need for consistent electricity supply to mitigate heatstroke risks. “We will also request the power utility to avoid load shedding during night hours in the city,” he added.
Severe heatwave conditions persist
Karachi continues to grapple with intense heat and high humidity, although there was a slight drop in temperature and a dust storm in the evening, attributed to “passing thunder cells from Hub and the northern region,” according to a Met department official.
The maximum temperature in Karachi reached 40°C on Wednesday, with a relative humidity of 53 per cent. The heat index — a measure of how hot it feels when humidity is factored in with the air temperature — was calculated to be between 48-50°C at around 2 PM.
Weather forecast
The Met Office predicts that Karachi will remain hot and humid on Thursday, with maximum temperatures ranging between 36-38°C. There is a possibility of isolated dust-thunderstorms or light rain on the city’s outskirts on Friday.
Additionally, dust storms and light rain are expected in other regions of Sindh, including Jamshoro, Thatta, Badin, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, and Tharparkar on Thursday.