Health dept team reaches Keamari

Investigation under way over deaths by ‘toxic fumes’ from factories

KARACHI:

The Sindh Health Department released the preliminary report of the Ali Muhammad Goth Keamari incident in which 18 people died of fever and cold.

According to the report, 16 men, 30 women and 25 children were medically examined out of which five people were infected with TB, while the others’ reports are being awaited.

It has been stated in the report that the reason for the deaths has not been identified yet while a medical investigation is under way in this regard.

It was also reported that 48 people were tested for Covid-19 after developing symptoms, while all of them resulted negative for the test.

The residents of the area have complained of a strange smell, and the emission of harmful gas continues in the nearby areas.

A team from the Department of Health and Environment is trying to find out the cause of deaths in the area. Meanwhile, the area residents shouted in front of the media and informed the DC about the situation in the factories that have been causing environmental pollution in the area.

In his regard, DC Keamari Mukhtiar Abro said, “we do not have any data on who the deceased was and when they died. We have sealed factories on people's complaints while a team has been formed to investigate the deaths of people.”

Meanwhile, members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentary leader Sindh Assembly Khurram Sher Zaman submitted an adjournment motion on the deaths due to poisonous gas in Keamari Town.

Separately, the Coordinating Committee of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan has expressed deep concern over the toxic gas and the deaths caused by the factory in the area.