Staff Report
KARACHI: At least 20 people, including children, have died due to a mysterious toxic gas in Karachi’s Kemari area in the last over two weeks.
Meanwhile, the Sindh Health department also confirmed the deaths stating at least 18 people have died in the last 16 days after the toxic chemical emanated from two factories in the area.
Gas leak and mysterious deaths
The provincial health department said in a statement that officials visited the Ali Muhammad Goth area of Keamari earlier to investigate the gas leak and mysterious deaths reported since January 1.
According to health officials, the victims died within a span of five to seven days after exhibiting symptoms of fever, sore throat, and shortness of breath.
Sources said that two factories inside a village in Kemari’s Jackson area had been emitting foul smell, causing residents to feel severe irritation in their throats, according to locals.
Initial investigation suggested that the cause of the deaths was some chemicals that developed interstitial lung disease in the victims.
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed the Karachi commissioner, health authorities and the labour department to conduct a probe into the incident and submit their report.
