Karachi commissioner refutes claims of 'high' heatstroke death toll

Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi has refuted the reports of high heat-related deaths amid ongoing scorching weather in the port city.

He said that only ten deaths were reported due to heatstroke in two days.

Speaking to the journalists in his office, Naqvi directed institutions, including NGOs, not to collect data on fatalities on their own and to get confirmation from authorities and administration before sharing data.

“The figures circulating regarding the excessive deaths have not been verified,” said the commissioner.

He claimed that the administration was taking measures to deal with the situation, emerging due to the heatwave and hot weather.

Naqvi admitted that figures of deaths increased from normal in the metropolis, but "it is not the only cause of all deaths reported in a few days".

“We have used all sources to collect data and also contacted concerned authorities of local bodies and officials of mortuaries to get data of the graveyards, but these deaths could not be conclusively attributed to heat stroke," he said.

The commissioner directed K-Electric to provide uninterrupted electricity during critical hours of hot weather. 

He also informed the reporters about the planned meeting with KE officials to ensure consistent power provision from midnight to early morning.

On the other hand, the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK), declared four more deaths from heatstroke on Wednesday.

Six more bodies were recovered from different parts of Karachi, bringing the total number of such deaths to 35 over the past four days.

Moreover, the 24-hour data from Jinnah Hospital showed that at least 37 heatstroke patients were treated in the health facility, and 13 were brought to Indus Hospital.

According to the Commissioner, as many as 147 patients with heatstroke were shifted to the hospital on Tuesday, and all of them, except for two, were discharged after treatment.