34 homeless, drug addicts found dead

The relentless heatwave in Lahore has had a devastating impact on the city's homeless and drug addicts, with 34 deaths reported in the last ten days alone.

Over the three days of Eid holidays, at least 26 unidentified individuals were found dead on the streets and roads of the provincial capital.

In a tragic toll, victims included a 50-year-old woman found at Qainchi Stop, Kot Lakhpat, and two unidentified persons at Millat Park.

A 70-year-old man was discovered in Green Town, a 45-year-old near the Expo Center, Nawab Town, and two persons at Ghalib Market.

Other casualties included a 35-year-old man near Sabzazar Orange Train Metro Station, Allama Iqbal Town, another 35-year-old in Shahdara, and two unidentified persons from the Factory Area.

The grim list continues with a 40-year-old man near Railway Phattak, Naseerabad, a 60-year-old near Pakistani Chowk, Ichra, a man near Qaisar Town, Shahdara, two from Ashiana Road, Nishter Colony, another at Australia Chowk, Naulakha, and a 75-year-old from Mughalpura. Additional victims were found in Ali Park, Tibbi City, two unidentified persons in Gowalmandi, and one each from Ravi Road, Sabzi Mandi, and Old Anarkali.

Two days before Eid, on Saturday, June 15th, four more individuals were found dead, including a man near Data Darbar, a 65-year-old at Lorry Ada Chowk, a 32-year-old in Missri Shah, a 60-year-old at Yateem Khana Chowk, Nawan Kot, and a 50-year-old in Kotli Kassi, Harbanspura.

On June 23rd, two more deaths were reported from Tajpura Ground, Shadbagh, and Dahar Gaon, Shahdara Town.

The data, compiled by the Edhi Foundation, shows that their ambulance services have been overwhelmed, moving bodies to morgues for autopsy and burial. According to Edhi officials, most victims appeared impoverished and likely drug addicts.

Statistics indicate that over 50 such bodies have been recovered from Lahore's streets in June alone. The rise in deaths correlates with extreme weather conditions, whether excessively hot or cold.

A report by the Drug Advisory Training Hub (DATH) revealed that over 60 drug addicts died in Lahore in June 2022, with 205 deaths recorded in the first five months of the same year.

These alarming numbers demand urgent attention from government authorities. The establishment of robust social support systems, including shelters for the homeless and accessible drug rehabilitation services, could significantly reduce these tragic fatalities.