KARACHI: Six persons including two women were killed and dozens hospitalized after being exposed to poisonous gas in the Karachi’s Kiamari area on Sunday, police said.
Those hospitalized had complained of respiratory problems, police added, noting that the real cause could not be ascertained. However, it was suspected that the leakage — as gas — occurred during offloading chemicals from a cargo ship anchored at Kiamari Jetty.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muqaddas Haider, the gas was reportedly emitted from a container carrying chemical used to preserve peas which affected over 70 people in different areas of the neighbourhood near Karachi port. He confirmed the death of six persons.
The victims have been shifted to the hospital and causes of the incident are being ascertained, he added. The police official said that the authorities concerned have already been informed about the incident.
The administration of Ziauddin Hospital has confirmed that over 50 patients were brought to the hospital suffering from experiencing stomach ache and breathing problems. They said all the patients are the residents of Keemari “who are being given medical aid”.
However, sources of Karachi port denied the reports that there was any gas or chemical leaked from any container.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah while taking notice of the incident, summoned a report from the authorities.
Meanwhile, Maritime Affairs Minister Ali Zaidi expressed grief over the loss of lives and directed the port authorities to investigate the cause of the gas leakage. He also said that the incident did not occur in the port premises.
“I have directed KPT [Karachi Port Trust] to investigate & establish facts. Meanwhile [the] KPT has also been directed to treat the patients at the KPT hopsital in Kemari. Rest assured, details of the sad incident will be shared in due course & those responsible will be dealt with severely,” he said in a series of tweets.
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