Karachi witnesses surge in heatstroke patients amid scorching summer

• 150 affected by intense heat admitted to Civil Hospital.
• Eight heatstroke-related deaths reported at Civil Hospital yesterday.
• PMD forecasts rains across country from June 26. 
  

KARACHI: The number of heatstroke patients has witnessed a steep rise in a few days as Karachi remained under the grip of extremely hot and humid weather with the mercury touching 42°C while "feels-like" exceeding 50°C a day earlier in the port city.

During the last two days, 150 heatstroke patients have been brought to Karachi’s Civil Hospital, including 40 citizens affected by intense heat remained admitted to the medical facility since Tuesday morning.

Additional Medical Superintendent Civil Hospital said that many patients got dehydrated due to sizzling temperatures and were discharged after providing necessary medical assistance.

The emergency department in-charge advised the citizens of the port city to drink excessive water and avoid unnecessarily going outside.

According to the hospital administration, no heatstroke-related death occurred at the Civil Hospital today. However, the medical facility saw the deaths of eight citizens who were affected by intense heat yesterday.

Subsequently, there was no death reported in Jinnah Hospital — another medical facility run by the provincial government — on Tuesday.

As per the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Karachi is in the grip of extremely hot and humid weather with sea breezes currently stopped and a high humidity level.

The weather forecast department said that the same weather conditions would prevail in the provincial capital for the next three days. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 41.3°C today which could fall to 37°C to 39°C tomorrow, it added.

However, the mercury could again rise to 40°C on Thursday, the PMD predicted.

Citing extreme weather conditions, the department urged Karachiites to keep themselves hydrated by consuming water and juices as the intensity of heat may rise with more humidity in the coming days.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rains across various parts of the country from June 26 (tomorrow), which will provide much relief to the people facing scorching heat.

Low pressure of air is in the south of Indian Gujarat and monsoon winds from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal will enter the eastern parts of the country on June 26, resulting in expected rains in various areas of Sindh including Umarkot, Badin, Thatta and Karachi, the Met Office said.