KARACHI: At least 12 people have died in the past 24 hours in Hyderabad, Sindh’s second-largest city, as a heatwave continues to scorch parts of the province.
Hyderabad’s Civil Hospital reported admitting 50 patients due to the heatwave, with fatalities including two women and one prisoner. Karachi continues to grapple with extreme heat, with hundreds already succumbing to the conditions.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) voiced grave concerns over the spike in heat-related deaths, citing Edhi Foundation reports of nearly 568 fatalities over the past five days. Similarly, the Chhipa Foundation noted a surge in mortality, with 100 bodies received at Karachi’s morgue in just three days, 36 of which remain unidentified.
Pakistan’s climate is warming faster than the global average, with projections indicating potential temperature rises of 2.3 to 8.8 degrees Fahrenheit by the 2090s compared to 1986–2005 levels, as highlighted by a World Bank climate panel.
The country, susceptible to climate change impacts, faces increased risks from forthcoming monsoon rains, expected to begin in July and potentially triggering flash floods, as per the National Disaster Management Authority.
