As temperatures soar above 40°C (104°F) in Karachi, the largest city in Pakistan, the scorching heatwave has unleashed a wave of tragedy and challenges for its residents. Over the past week, the city has witnessed a dramatic surge in fatalities and hospitalizations attributed to the extreme heat and stifling humidity.
The Edhi ambulance service, a crucial lifeline in Karachi, typically transports 30 to 40 bodies daily to the city morgue. However, in just six days, they collected a staggering 568 bodies, underscoring the severity of the current heatwave. On Tuesday alone, 141 fatalities were recorded, marking one of the deadliest days in recent memory.
Dr. Imran Sarwar Sheikh, head of the emergency department at Civil Hospital Karachi, reported admitting 267 individuals suffering from heatstroke between Sunday and Wednesday. Tragically, twelve of these patients succumbed to the intense heat. He further stated that symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and high fever were common among those seeking medical attention.
Efforts to mitigate the impact of the heatwave included setting up heatwave centers and camps to provide relief to the public. Images captured children seeking solace in fountains, trying to escape the oppressive heat.
Not all who fell ill managed to reach hospitals in time. Wasim Ahmed, a 56-year-old security guard, collapsed at home after finishing a grueling overnight shift outdoors. His cousin, Adnan Zafar, recounted the heartbreaking moment when Wasim, overwhelmed by the heat, asked for water before collapsing. Despite immediate efforts to get him medical aid, he tragically passed away from a suspected heart attack exacerbated by the extreme weather conditions.
Karachi’s battle with the soaring temperatures is exacerbated by frequent power cuts, leaving many without essential cooling devices like fans and air conditioning. Muhammad Amin, another victim of the heatwave, reportedly fell ill during a power outage and subsequently passed away, leaving his family suspecting heat-related complications as the cause.
Beyond Karachi, the entire province of Sindh, of which Karachi is the capital, has been grappling with unprecedented heat. Recent reports indicate temperatures soaring to 52.2°C (126°F), pushing emergency services to their limits as they respond to distress calls across the region.
The situation in Pakistan mirrors a broader trend across South Asia, where neighboring countries like India have also been enduring record-breaking temperatures. In Delhi, India’s capital, temperatures have consistently crossed 40°C since May, peaking close to 50°C, prompting health officials to label the heatwave as “unprecedented.”
For many residents like Mohammad Zeshan, the root cause lies in climate change. “This is happening all around the world,” he remarked, highlighting the urgent need for effective government measures to combat these increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves.
Climate experts warn that such extreme weather events are likely to become more frequent and severe due to global climate change. While Karachi braces for more scorching days ahead, meteorologists are cautiously optimistic about the upcoming monsoon season, which promises relief in the form of anticipated rains that could alleviate the city’s parched conditions.
As Karachi mourns its losses and struggles to adapt to the changing climate realities, the heatwave serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for proactive measures to safeguard vulnerable populations and mitigate the impacts of climate change on communities worldwide.
