A man died of severe heat stroke in Manghopir area of Karachi, rescue workers said, the first victim after the Met office issued a heat wave alert for Karachiites earlier today.
The deceased identified as 45-year-old Sharafat Jokhio fell unconscious near Manghopir Mazaar, said the Edhi service spokesman. Jokhio was rushed to nearby hospital where doctors pronounced him dead and confirmed he died of heat stroke.
Meanwhile, another person was shifted to the heat stroke response centre near NIPA.
The Meteorological Department has issued heat wave alert for Karachi for three days starting from today (Friday).
According to the Met office, day temperatures will gradually increase from 38 to 40 degrees Celsius from Friday and remain same till Sunday.
In view of the forecast of possible heat wave, the Metropolitan Commissioner Samiuddin Siddiqui has declared a state of emergency in all KMC run hospitals and cancelled the leaves of all concerned staff.
The emergency was declared in a bid to avoid a repeat of last year’s catastrophe which claimed over 1,500 lives during a heat wave that persisted for at least a week.
He also appealed to the citizens to avoid going out during the heat wave and take all precautionary measures in this regard.
