Karachi Suffers Amid Heatwave: Water Shortage Claims Lives

Unfortunately, Karachi is situated in the middle of a heatwave currently, with temperatures on Monday reaching 42 degrees Celsius, or rather, 50 plus because of the heat index. This extreme heat has caused many losses and difficulties in various fields in the city.

For the latest incidence, the city found seven more bodies of drug addicts in different locations on Monday, which made the death toll higher in the city. This has been a very hot spell where 10 people have died at the two main health facilities of Jinnah and Civil Hospitals. On average, the Edhi Foundation has reported 300 dead bodies in the last three days in their morgues alone. Faisal Edhi pointed out that this ratio is two and a half times higher than what is normally found on the roads on a regular day.

This has been compounded by the incidences of halting water supplies in several areas of Karachi. People of Baldia, Naval Colony and Moosa Colony went on rings and sought help with extreme summer along with no water and electricity supply.

Authorities are advising people in Karachi to stay out of the sun because the heat is going to be unbearable for another three days. They suggest avoiding going out in the mid-afternoon sun or crossing deserts during hottest hours of the day, taking plenty of water and wearing light and loose clothing in light colours.

Unfortunately, this heatwave demonstrated the effects of increasing temperatures on urban environments, and Islamabad and Karachi are prime examples of cities where extant buildings and road networks are ill-equipped for soaring heat. As the temperatures continue to rise, the dwellers of the city have to work on how to deal with not just the effects of such tough heat but also the social impacts.