KARACHI: In an unusual and tragic turn of events, 14 bodies were discovered in Karachi on Sunday
Most of the deceased were drug addicts who succumbed to severe heat while under the influence of drugs, reported Edhi Foundation official Azeem Khan. He noted that the combination of scorching heat and the increasing number of drug addicts has led to a rise in fatalities, warning that continued drug use in extremely hot weather heightens the risk of death.
The city’s temperature soared to 39°C with 75% humidity on Sunday, and the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasted further increases and hot winds from the northwest. The Met Office predicted temperatures between 38 to 40°C with 76% humidity for the metropolis.
Among the 14 bodies, three were found in Pak Colony’s Lashari neighborhood near the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) ground, belonging to suspected drug addicts aged between 25 and 45 years. Other bodies were discovered in various locations across the city, including Artillery Maidan, Jamshed Quarters, Old Golimar, Korangi Industrial Area, New Karachi Industrial Area, Orangi Town, Defence Phase VII, Landhi, Lyari, Mehmoodabad, and Shanti Nagar.
The deceased included individuals of various ages, from a newborn found in a garbage dump in Lyari to a 60-year-old in Shanti Nagar. The bodies have been transferred to several hospitals and morgues across the city, with the causes of death pending further investigation.