Heatwave Results in 35 Deaths, According to Health Department An extreme surge in moisture-laden air heated up Karachi on the morning of Sunday, June 23, pushing temperatures to 40 degrees Celsius as the sea breeze ceased due to a low-pressure area in the Arabian Sea near Gujarat’s Indian coast. This atmospheric shift elevated Karachi’s heat index above 50 degrees Celsius.
Dr. Ghulam Rasool, former director general of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), described how high moisture levels from the Arabian Sea saturated Karachi’s air overnight between June 22 and June 23. With the sea breeze halted, there was no airflow to clear the moisture, causing temperatures to spike and creating conditions akin to being inside a heated pressure cooker.
Reports indicate hundreds have succumbed to heatstroke during the ongoing heatwave gripping Karachi since June 23. Welfare organizations suggest a death toll as high as 800, whereas the provincial health department reports 35 deaths attributed to heatstroke and related causes from major public health facilities.
Health experts note that over 90 percent of heatstroke victims never reached hospitals, passing away either on the streets or at home.
Dr. Rasool, now advising at the China-Pakistan Joint Research Centre, noted that while the current heatwave isn’t as severe as the 2015 event, its prolonged duration has inflicted severe hardship on Karachi’s residents throughout the week. Temperatures peaked at 41-42 degrees Celsius this year, compared to 45-46 degrees Celsius in 2015.
Predicting more frequent heatwaves in the future, Dr. Rasool urged authorities and individuals to focus on climate adaptation and mitigation measures.
Dr. Sardar Sarfraz, Sindh’s chief meteorologist, attributed the Karachi heatwave starting June 22-23, 2024, to a low-pressure zone in the Arabian Sea disrupting the sea breeze. This caused high humidity levels (70-80 percent) over Karachi to heat up, leading to suffocating conditions and heat exhaustion, particularly impacting the homeless and those without electricity.
As humidity soared and the sea breeze faltered, the heat index surpassed 50 degrees Celsius, exacerbating conditions for vulnerable groups including the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, and outdoor workers. Dr. Sarfraz highlighted reports of heatstroke fatalities predominantly among those on the streets or without cooling facilities at home.
Medical experts underscored that heatstroke poses an imminent health threat, capable of causing death within hours. Symptoms include elevated body temperature, altered mental state, rapid breathing, and organ failure if untreated promptly.
Dr. Khurram Nizami, a medical specialist, emphasized the critical importance of swift action in cooling the body and seeking emergency medical aid to mitigate the potentially fatal effects of severe heatstroke.
