Karachi’s death rate shoots up

Over 1,400 bodies buried in KMC graveyards in June

KARACHI: Following the coronavirus outbreak, the death rate in Karachi has escalated drastically, with at least 150 deaths being reported daily.

As many as 2,250 deaths were reported in May and, as per the data released by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), 1,411 bodies were buried in graveyards run by the KMC during the first 10 days of June - seemingly a drastic rise from May.

Corroborating this information, a senior KMC official observed that there were 203 graveyards across Karachi, including 32 managed by the KMC, and hence, the total number of burials in the city during the first 10 days of this month would be significantly greater.

He said that compared to 150 burials, at minimum, in a day now in KMC graveyards, previously the number ranged between 50 and 70.

The official also gave the example of the Wadi-e-Hussain graveyard -which is not under the KMC - where, he said, four to six bodies were buried in a day previously but the number had now risen to 15 to 18 bodies per day.

Sources in the KMC say that burials in Karachi's graveyards have increased by 30 per cent to 40 per cent, pointing out that one of the reasons behind the increase in the death rate was people's hesitation of visiting hospitals amid fears of contracting the coronavirus.

The sources also noted that people avoided getting screened for the coronavirus due to the inconvenience they had to face as a consequence of low testing capacity.

This was reaffirmed by a healthcare professional, who said that while the coronavirus tally continued to rise, many families did not disclose any symptoms of the disease out of fear of the stigma attached to it. He further claimed that those from low-income background couldn't even afford getting tested.

KMC sources said that usually, the city would see a higher number of deaths during June and July than the rest of the year, but this time around, the rise in the death rate was massive.

As a result, Edhi and Chhipa morgues, as well as those run by other organisations, were filled to capacity, they added.

According to the sources, in comparison to one or two persons succumbing to the coronavirus per day in Ramazan, the number had soared by 30 per cent now. However, it had done little to move the government, which had not taken any substantial measures to address the issue, they opined.

Further elaborating on the matter, an Edhi Foundation worker told The Express Tribune that they of late, they were carrying more bodies in ambulances than patients and that most of the deceased were aged above 50.

"And since morgues have run out of space, we are now keeping bodies in chambers reserved for deceased without known heirs," he explained.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2020.