13 homeless die of exposure to harsh cold

43 bodies found on footpaths in past 40 days

KARACHI:

Drop in mercury with each passing day has brought chill to the city as a result as many as 43 people have died due to exposure to severe cold during almost one-and-a-half months.

A social welfare organisation said they picked up bodies of unidentified drug addicts from the footpaths where they had dosed off after their dose unaware of the weather and slipped off into eternal sleep. The social welfare organisations arranged burial of some of the individuals.

Meanwhile, Chaudhry Shahid Haseen, spokesperson for Chhipa Foundation, mentioned that from December 2024 until now, they picked up 43 bodies of people who had died in the city due to drug overdose and exposure to cold. Among them and one was a female.

He revealed that more than 13 of these deceased individuals died exclusively of exposure to the cold, while the rest of the 30 due to drug overdose as well as exposure to the elements. These individuals were drug addicts and did not have any blankets, quilts, or beds to protect themselves from the unusual cold spell that has gripped the port city this year. Haseen said that these people tend to consume excessive amounts of drugs to avoid feeling of cold and sleep on sidewalks or other secluded areas. Without warm clothing or bedding, they suffer from severe cold despite being intoxicated. The combination of cold weather and excessive use of drugs led to their deaths, the spokesperson said, adding, that is why unidentified people are found dead on streets and sidewalks during the winter season. Chhipa organisation buries these bodies with its own resources.

He mentioned that this year, the cold in Karachi has been more intense, and hundreds of homeless individuals have no proper clothing and bedding and sleep on sidewalks, open spaces, under the bridges and flyovers.

Haseen appealed the philanthropists to donate blankets, quilts, and bedding to protect the homeless from the cold. Chhipa is taking measures to protect these homeless individuals from the cold but needs additional resources for this cause.