KARACHI: Death toll rises to nine in Kiamari gas leakage incident and the initial investigation suggests leakage of ‘Hydrogen Sulphide’.
Authorities investigating the lethal gas leak in Karachi’s Kiamari area on Monday said the probable cause of health disaster in the Railway Colony which killed nine people and affected over 500 was suspected to be from “Hydrogen Sulphide”, a highly poisonous gas that is a byproduct of crude oil and also generated in sewerage system.
More than 100 people were shifted to public and private hospitals last night with people complaining of itching eyes, breathing problems and tightness in the chest.
The health and police authorities confirmed the death of at least one person from the suspected gas poisoning on Tuesday morning along with three others, taking the death toll to nine during the past two days.
“Hydrogen Sulphide could be the probable cause of gas poisoning in Kiamari area adjacent to Karachi port where some have unfortunately died and dozens were hospitalised on Sunday night,” Sindh Adviser on Environment Murtaza Wahab told media.
“So far, our investigation is inconclusive but our teams are working on it and we have also sought professional assistance from a private firm to help in the investigation,” Wahab added.
Wahab said their investigators were suspecting Hydrogen Sulphide poisoning in the Keamari area, adding that some ‘crude oil facilities’ adjacent to the Railway Colony could be the probable source of gas poisoning.
He added the investigation was still underway and non-conclusive at the moment.
“We have summoned the officials of some of the companies who have installations in the area from where gas poisoning was reported. We have also involved some private firms having expertise in such incidents,” Wahab said, adding that at the moment, they don’t see any need for mass evacuation of the people from the affected area.
Sindh government officials claimed that the provincial environmental watchdog, the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), was not allowed to monitor facilities at the Karachi Port, which is managed by the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and Pakistan Navy as these authorities believe they are only governed by the federal environmental laws.
A team of investigators from SEPA had rushed to Keamari after residents from Massan Road and Railway Colony complained of burning and irritation in eyes, along with breathing issues.
Sindh Health Secretary Zahid Abbassi who visited Ziauddin Hospital last night announced the Sindh government would bear the expenses of all the people who were hospitalised due to gas inhalation and poisoning.
Earlier, a team of Pakistan Navy’s Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defense (NBCD) also conducted an investigation into the possible source of toxic gas leakage in the port area, however, no details of the findings were made public.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Monday night visited Ziauddin Hospital and Jinnah Hospital and enquired about the health of gas-affected persons. He also directed the administration to use all resources to provide best treatment to the patients.
Read more: Six including two women die, dozens hospitalized after inhaling ‘poisonous gas’
