Karachi heatwave: Deaths, causes and hopes for showers

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Karachi heatwave: Deaths, causes and hopes for showers

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LAHORE (Web Desk) – Deadly heat wave that hit the Sindh metropolitan has claimed at least 815 lives until the filing of this report. This is the worst temperature Karachi has witnessed in a decade.

The majority of people died in government-run hospitals in the port city of Karachi, Pakistan s economic hub of around 20 million people, as temperatures reached 45 degrees Celsius (111 Fahrenheit) at the weekend

                                                           What caused this immense change in weather?

The experts have termed this heatwave a result of a phenomenon called the ‘time mover’. While talking to APP, Dr Pervaiz Amir said that the South Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean are in phase of convergence which is causing aggravation in temperature of the sea shores and adjoining areas. The renowned environmentalist said that the recent intense temperature rise in India has moved towards Sindh and is likely to enter southern parts of Punjab.

The expert also said that the sea breeze temperature has risen which is causing an accumulative affect with the land temperature. While talking about the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s (PMD) prediction of early monsoon downpours in Sindh this year, Dr Amir said that it is highly likely but will happen intermittently.

He further said that the monsoon this year would be less than the average of past 100 years.

Environmental scientist heading PMD Dr Ghulam Rasool said that global warming is a growing concern of the world population and we cannot deny its part in fatal temperature of Karachi.

                                                                      Situation in hospitals

Karachi’s largest hospital, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre’s (JPMC) emergency ward in-charge Seemi Jamali said that the medics have treated not less than 3,000 people suffering from heat stroke. She said that more than 200 people either died in the hospital or were brought dead.

Moreover, the private hospitals have refused to admit more patients having no vacancies left.

Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif has taken notice of the deaths and ordered authorities to provide best facilities to the sun-struck people. However, the Sindh government has elicited help from the paramilitary Rangers and the army.

                                                   Power cuts and potable water shortage amidst fatal heat

It is not all for the worst-hit Karachi as long power cuts have resulted in water shortage. The pumping stations in the city are not meeting the demands of the people missing out on millions of gallons per day.

Water needs of Karachi

People protest against power outages

                                                    Recent wave in neighbouring India

This summer India has also suffered the second worst heat wave in its history that killed at least 2,005 people. The deaths were mostly in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. India struggles with heat stroke every year but the death toll this year was the second highest ever. The heat this summer broke records of past ten years in New Delhi.

Man cooks omelette outdoors in New Delhi,  YES IT WAS THAT KIND OF HEAT  

Source: New York Post

                                                                        Relief activities

However, in Karachi the Pakistan Army and the Rangers have established relief camps to treat the heat struck people.

Read on Dunya News website Army establishes heat stroke camps

The provincial authorities were considering artificial rain an option to lower the temperature and relieve the people from suffering. However, the experts killed the hopes by denying chances of seeding clouds for at least a week due to unfavourable thickness of clouds.

Read on Dunya News website Artificial rain not possible for week

Read on Dunya News website What is artificial rain?

Authorities deliberate over artificial rain, graphics of cloud seeding

Industrialist Malik Riaz has announced Rs 5 lac for each heat affectee in Sindh

                                                                     International media coverage

The international media has covered the deadly climate change in Karachi

AL JAZEERA reported

The Guardian reported

The New York Times reported

CNN reported

TIME reported

Voice of America reported

BBC reported

Mashable reported

 reported

                                                                      Political stunts

Mean while the opposition parties offered funerals in absentia outside the Parliament of the heat stroke victims

Opposition has called to observe a day of mourning on Friday.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi: "We will submit a requisition for summoning of the National Assembly to discuss increasing load-shedding in hot weather."

Khursheed Shah: "Load-shedding has increased the problems of people in hot weather."

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar stressed the need to resolve issue of power outages terming it a national issue.

Sindh Assembly offers Fateha for the departed souls. The lawmakers demanded compensation for teh heirs of those who perished in the heat wave.

Khurshid Shah and Khawaja Asif play blame game in the National Assembly. Both leaders tried to get the monkey off their backs. Shah puts responsiblity on federal government while Asif on Sindh government.

I didn t promise to end load shedding within six months, says Khawaja Asif

Abid Sher Ali is "kid" and can say anything, we won t take offense, says Khursheed Shah

Leader of Opposition in the Sindh Assembly MQM s Khawaja Izharul Hassan said that the government needs to summon K-Electric authorities. He held the federal as well as the provincial governments responsible for the deaths. He said that the government should have taken precautionary measures in light of the weather forecast and the deadly heatwave in India.

PML-N s Sorath Thebo held deforestation on massive scale reponsible for the climate change.

Sindh Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that he contacted Hesco and Sepco in the matter and teh authortities told him that they were getting reduced load from the federal government.

Zardari writes letter to PM over power outages

MQM picked on by parties in Sindh Assembly

                                                                  Wave heads to interior Sindh

Spreading long from Karachi, the heat wave has furthered to interior Sindh claiming lives. As many as 33 people have died in the past 24 hours. The authorities have warned the locals of more cases in coming days. These cases have been reported from Hyderabad, Tando Alla Yar and Halla. 

                                                                Some tips on how to avoid heat stroke

a- Limit your time spent outdoors

b- Wear cap, avoid t-shirts and shorts when in contact with sun

c- Reduce hectic work schedule. Spend the time you used to spend in gym at home

d- Replace dark curtains, metal blinds in your home if possible because they absorb heat

e- Place bowls of water in different rooms as they help cooling the house through evaporation

f- Avoid tea, coffee and cigarettes as they dehydrate the body

                                                               Today s weather report relieves people, PMD gives hope