Death toll from toxic gas leak reaches 14 in Karachi’s Keamari area

Death toll from toxic gas leak reaches 14 in Karachi’s Keamari area

Karachi (Staff Report/Agencies): The death toll in Karachi reached 14 on Tuesday, two days after poisonous gas leak started in Kaemari area of the city on Sunday night.

As per the details, a spokesperson for the Sindh health department confirmed that more than 300 people, including women and children were affected due to the gas leak.

Addressing a press conference along with Sindh Minister for Local Government Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani said multiple theories were being considered but thus far the source of the gas and its nature was still unknown. He added that an investigation was still underway.

Speaking to newsmen on this occasion, Sindh Information Minister Nasir Shah said that Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah was personally monitoring the situation and that medical aid is being provided to the victims in hospitals and all possible help will be provided to the victims.

Meanwhile, Chemical and nuclear specialists from the armed forces reached in Kaemari locality of the city. The specialists will investigate the reported gas leak and determine the source of the deadly agent which has taken a toll on area residents over the last three days.

On Monday night, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah ordered the evacuation of residents from the affected areas, regretting that the "bad smell" was not receding and people were still being affected.

Over 100 people were moved to Karachi's public and private hospitals just last night over the concerning health disaster.

Most people affected by the poisonous gas were brought to Ziauddin Hospital and Karachi Port Trust (KPT) Hospital over the past 24 hours.

Some others were shifted to Dr. Ruth K. M. Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Kutiyana Memon Hospital, and Burhani Hospital.

According to doctors, the patients had complained of breathing problems, respiratory issues, stomach ache, burning sensation in eyes, and a tightness in the chest.