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Heat wave kills 65 in Karachi

The biggest reasons behind these deaths are unawareness, power breakdown and inadequate health facilities.

The heat wave coincides with the beginning of Ramadan, when millions of Muslim across the world including Pakistanis abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset.

Faisal Edhi, chief of the Edhi Foundation rescue service says that most of those who have died so far during the heat wave were elderly or had existing health complications.

Long hours of power outages have also hit different plagued parts of Karachi further exacerbating citizens' woes.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned that the current heat wave would continue throughout the week, forecasting daytime temperatures of between 40-43 degrees.

The government however disputes the death toll, saying many of the deaths were due to underlying conditions, and not heat stroke or dehydration.

The government also claims to have set up dozens of camps across the city where they are providing water and basic medication to those feeling the effects of the heat.

Rescue officials are advising those who fast to avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, and to keep their skin, particularly on their heads and faces, moist.

Karachi mayor Waseem Akhtar has also urged residents to stay indoors during the day to avoid heatstroke.

Ministry of Climate Change sent a letter on 6th April 2018 to all provinces and federating units to take safety measures in advance to cope with any predicted heat wave issue.

A technical report on Karachi Heat wave June 2015 was also attached with these letters to provide the strategy and guidelines to all provinces and federating units for safety of citizen against heat wave.

Temperatures of 40°C and higher are not uncommon in parts of inland Pakistan, but Karachi normally remains cooler due to its coastal location.

A severe heat wave with temperatures as high as 49 °C (120 °F) struck southern Pakistan in June 2015. It caused the deaths of about 2,000 people from dehydration and heat stroke, mostly in Sindh province and its capital city, Karachi.

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