KARACHI: At least 19 deaths, including that of 16 children, have occurred in 16 days alone in Muach Goth area of Kemari, Karachi, which locals blame on fumes and gasses from illegal factories in the area.
BBC Urdu reports that factories that burn plastic in the area have been held responsible by the locals, but the health department claims that the deaths took place due to chemicals that cause lung disease. There were already grease and oil manufacturing factories operating regularly in the area. Chinese companies are also allegedly burning iron ore in the vicinity, and causing pollution.
Kemari, Karachi: 19 children died and more than 50 are in critical condition for inhaling poisonous gas evaporating from the illegal plastic factories in neighbourhoods.
The Karachi administration is responsible for these deaths. How these factories were allowed? pic.twitter.com/2UrY6AGLQk— Shama Junejo (@ShamaJunejo) January 27, 2023
The symptoms leading up to the deaths included a cough, then fever and shortness of breath, after which the affectees passed away within a few days. The deceased also experienced tightening of the chest area.
After the order of inquiry by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, four factories were sealed while the health department took blood samples and other tests of the affected people to examine the causes of the deaths. According to DC Kemari Mukhtiar Ali Abru, fumes of burnt plastic created smoke that damaged children’s throats, leading to pneumonia-like symptoms.
According to the Sindh Health Department, medical camps have been established in the area while further investigation in relation to this environmental hazard is underway. The Environment Department of Sindh has also been asked to investigate the emission of gasses. It should be remembered that the affected area is the constituency of Federal Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel.
24 hours have gone by and still no confirmation of what the mysterious leak is; panic in the area as death toll continues to rise. Shout out to all my fellow doctors working in Ziauddin kemari right now where the ER has been flooded since yesterday. #kemari #Karachi
— Baakh (@bnusrat) February 17, 2020
