Mysterious gas kills several people in Karachi's Kemari, scores hospitalised

KARACHI: A mysterious gas in Kemari port area of the metropolis has killed at least four people with fears of the numbers escalating, scores are affected and have been shifted to the nearest healthcare facilities, ARY News reported on Sunday night.

According to details, four people pronounced dead include two women, names of three dead individuals have been revealed to be Maymar Begum, Rizwan, and Ahsan.

Initial reports claim that more than 25 people are affected by the poisonous gas that spread in the Jackson Market area near the shipping port, local police, and other law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area to conduct a search operation after a thorough search the area was declared clear for commuters after the initial gas release.

Relief and rescue operations commenced on the scene.

The spokesperson of the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) in a statement has claimed that reports pertaining to the gas being released by a recent ship that anchored down at the port were untrue.

He also revealed that those affected by the gas were picked up from the road after their health deteriorated.

He maintained that there was no report thus far of such a gaseous presence at the port.

Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah and Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Ali Zaidi have taken notice of the gas-related emergency which took lives and affected many near the port area of Kemari earlier in the day.

Federal minister Ali Zaidi has maintained that the gas was not released in the jurisdiction of the port, rather at quite a distance away from it.

Taking to the micro-blogging website Twitter, Minister Ali Zaidi tweeted: “Shocked to hear about the loss of life due to poisonous gases in Kemari. Although the incident is not in the port, KPT officials have been dispatched to investigate the root cause. I request everyone to refrain from making any comments on the media till we have the facts on hand.”

Shocked to hear about loss of life due to poisonous gases in Kemari. Although the incident is not in the port, KPT officials have been dispatched to investigate the root cause.
I request everyone to refrain from making any comments on the media till we have the facts on hand

— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) February 16, 2020

The minister said that he is in deep grief over the loss of life in the incident and has ordered an urgent inquiry into the matter.

He also urged that the abstains from indulging in hearsay till facts regarding the incident come to the forefront.

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also condoled the deaths occurring due to the gaseous release and ordered the Commissioner of Karachi police to submit a report on the matter on a priority basis.

CM Sindh also issued directives to ensure the providence of the best healthcare facilities to those affected by the gas.