Death toll from Karachi heatwave exceeds 1,000

KARACHI: The death toll from the heatwave crossed 1,000 in Pakistan’s largest city and economic hub.

According to Edhi officials the death toll in Hyderabad stands at 34 after 6 more people lost the battle for life.

Meanwhile the total heatwave related deaths in Umer Kot and Tharparkar stands at 26 after a two-year-old girl passed away at the civil hospital.

Morgues and gravediggers in Karachi have struggled to keep up with the flow of bodies since the scorching temperatures began last weekend.

Hospitals have been on a crisis footing and dedicated heatstroke treatment centres have been set up around the city to treat the thousands affected by heatstroke and dehydration.

After days of temperatures hovering at highs in the mid-40s Celsius (around 110 Fahrenheit), sea breezes and cloud cover have brought respite to the port city in the last two days.

The Met Office forecast temperatures of around 34 degrees Celsius on Thursday, with 75 percent cloud cover.

Pakistan's largest charity, Edhi Foundation, said their mortuaries in the city had received such an influx of bodies that they were struggling to keep them properly chilled.

Victims´ families have also faced challenges in burying their dead, as grave-diggers have struggled to keep up with demand in the scorching heat.

While temperatures of 45 C and higher are not uncommon in parts of inland Pakistan, Karachi normally remains cooler thanks to its coastal location.

This year´s heatwave has also coincided with the start of the Islamic fasting month of Ramazan.

The majority of the deaths in Karachi have been among the poor and manual labourers who toil outdoors.

The situation has not been helped by power cuts -- a regular feature of life in Pakistan -- which have stopped fans and air conditioners from working and interrupted Karachi´s water supply.