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Unsurvivable heatwaves could hit India and Pakistan by the end of this century, scientists warn

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http://www.independent.co.uk/enviro...-bangladesh-2100-global-warming-a7874016.html

Climate change could bring deadly summer heatwaves to millions of people living in southern Asia by the end of this century, scientists predict.

Soaring temperatures could lead to unsurvivable levels of heat and humidity, it is claimed.

The regions likely to be hardest hit include northern India, Bangladesh and southern Pakistan, home to 1.5 billion people

The evidence is based on recent research showing the most deadly effects of hot weather come from a combination of high temperature and high humidity.

This is recorded using a measurement known as "wet-bulb" temperature, which reflects the ability of moisture to evaporate.

When wet-bulb temperatures reach 35C, the human body cannot cool itself enough to survive more than a few hours.

In today's climate, wet-bulb temperatures have rarely gone above 31C anywhere on Earth. But in 2015, the limit was almost reached in the Persian Gulf region, during a year when heat killed an estimated 3,500 people in Pakistan and India.

The new research shows that without serious reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, extreme heatwaves could raise wet-bulb temperatures to between 31C and 34.2C.

"It brings us close to the threshold of survivability, and anything in the 30s is very severe," said study author Dr Elfatih Eltahir, from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US.

By 2100, around 70 per cent of India's population was expected to suffer occasional exposures to 32C wet-bulb temperatures, the researchers wrote in the journal Science Advances. And two per cent could be subjected to deadly heat at the 35C limit.

Dr Eltahir added: "With the disruption to the agricultural production, it doesn't need to be the heatwave itself that kills people. Production will go down, so potentially everyone will suffer."
 
Where all those Indian's that supported Trump ?
 
Over population is the issue. Why blame Trump on this? Trump did not ask people of subcontinent to have tons of kids.

Trump pulled US out of Paris accord which was a step in right direction wrt decreasing emissions and curb temperature rise.What has overpopulation got to do with this? Per capita emission wise India is Still far behind America and EU.
 
Did this study take into account the influx of electric vehicles that is expected to overtake the market in the next two three decades?

I'm not too informed on India, but Pakistan has massive potential for hydro/wind/solar to meet our entire energy needs (that is including if all vehicles become electric). Surely that will go a long way in reducing emissions and decelerating the effects of global warming. The west (excluding US) is already moving towards energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean sources of energy.


The onus is on China, India and US to tackle their energy issues because those three nations will be the biggest contributors to global warming.
 
Trump pulled US out of Paris accord which was a step in right direction wrt decreasing emissions and curb temperature rise.What has overpopulation got to do with this? Per capita emission wise India is Still far behind America and EU.

I know what Trump did.

Just came back from India vacation, been to Bangalore and some small cities and towns in Andhra Pradesh. The amount of pollution is unbearable. People are buring tires as fuel for everything. Number of people on the roads driving bikes and cars seems to have tripled since the last time I saw 3 years ago. Way too many people every where riding vehicles and burning up everything as fuel.

India simply cannot afford that many people.
 
I hate these daft predictions of what will happen in a hundred years time. These people know nothing but conjecture. Allah is the best of planners, period. By saying "could" they try to escape criticism if their prediction is false. The world could end tomorrow as well!
 
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Nobody cares about climate change because it will not affect them at all.

Seems like it's going to be affecting people a lot sooner than we have been led to believe. There's still plenty of people who are insisting the whole concept has been made up.
 
Climate changing is happening - nearly all the major scientists have agreed on this. Make no mistake there will Be a price to pay later.

We may get away with the effects but what about our children and their children lives ?

Once the change it gets pasts a certain stage it will become irreversible so they have to take action now.

Trump is a buffoon and he will never be convinced because he's so short term money oriented person.
 
Did this study take into account the influx of electric vehicles that is expected to overtake the market in the next two three decades?

I'm not too informed on India, but Pakistan has massive potential for hydro/wind/solar to meet our entire energy needs (that is including if all vehicles become electric). Surely that will go a long way in reducing emissions and decelerating the effects of global warming. The west (excluding US) is already moving towards energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean sources of energy.


The onus is on China, India and US to tackle their energy issues because those three nations will be the biggest contributors to global warming.
Agri-farming contributes 51% of ghg emissions and this number is going up.
And virtually no one talks about it.
 
Climate change and pak

Most PPers are not exactly sold on climate change, but the when it come sto discussing water issues, pak govt and media seem to sing the climate change song. Is there an official position on climate change in pak?

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1863097/1-water-levels-drop-30-indus-basin/

“This study of the Indus Basin is relevant to us and we welcome the research. We are going to start pilot projects on the ground that will focus on climate resilient agriculture,” said Adviser to the PM on Climate Change, Malik Amin Aslam who was invited to be on the panel to discuss Pakistan’s food-energy-water security challenges and adaptation to climate change.

“We are one of the ‘continuous affectees’ of climate change since the last 20 years and we are fourth in terms of the number of climate triggered events and second in terms of the total climate losses amounting to as much as $3,826 million,” the adviser informed the panel, adding this means a heavy strain on the country’s economy is money being diverted from health and education to be spent on climate related disasters.
 
Sounds threatening but 100 years time period is too much of time for things to change ( in the right direction that is).
 
Sounds threatening but 100 years time period is too much of time for things to change ( in the right direction that is).

Actually in generational terms its not that far away. Essentially our grandkids time period and we know some people can live for a 100 years. Even 40 years from now things could be on their way to disaster..

This is why it is essential that Pakistan and India bury the hatchet and work together. We could pool our resources in science and development without losing what makes u unique. Renewable s, environmanetal protection, there are so many fields we could collaborate on.
 
I know what Trump did.

Just came back from India vacation, been to Bangalore and some small cities and towns in Andhra Pradesh. The amount of pollution is unbearable. People are buring tires as fuel for everything. Number of people on the roads driving bikes and cars seems to have tripled since the last time I saw 3 years ago. Way too many people every where riding vehicles and burning up everything as fuel.

India simply cannot afford that many people.

Cow 'emissions' more damaging to planet than CO2 from cars

https://www.independent.co.uk/envir...ging-to-planet-than-co2-from-cars-427843.html

Surely India should worry more about the population of cows than humans? Perhaps time to undo the ban on slaughter?
 
You will not leave some legacy or feel anything about the future era and nobody will care about you after you are gone. So stop bothering.

so you don't care if your grandchildren have to face climate change? That's such a shortsighted view, this is why Pakistan is behind cause y'all can't properly plan for the future. 3-4 generations go by real fast.
 
When we are gone nothing else matters. Couldn't care less what happens in a hundred years time at all. Could be that the said signs will bring the world nearer it's end. If that is what Allah wants it will come to pass, no one can stop it.
 
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When we are gone nothing else matters. Couldn't care less what happens in a hundred years time at all. Could be that the said signs will bring the world nearer it's end. If that is what Allah wants it will come to pass, no one can stop it.

Man I stopped responding to you when I realised you’re not a 15 year old child living in some isolated village. But this post... :facepalm:
You can’t hold Allah responsible for the consequences of your irresponsible acts.

Both countries will eventually come together and find ways to counter it. I just hope it won’t be too late by then. The problem with desis is that we’re rather shortsighted and think about solutions only when our back is against the wall even though we could see that happening years ago. One step both countries can take without each other’s help is controlling population growth. We just can’t use up all our resources. We’re not calling Mars ‘home’ anytime soon.
 
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Man I stopped responding to you when I realised you’re not a 15 year old child living in some isolated village. But this post... :facepalm:
You can’t hold Allah responsible for the consequences of your irresponsible acts.

Both countries will eventually come together and find ways to counter it. I just hope it won’t be too late by then. The problem with desis is that we’re rather shortsighted and think about solutions only when our back is against the wall even though we could see that happening years ago. One step both countries can take without each other’s help is controlling population growth. We just can’t use up all our resources. We’re not calling Mars ‘home’ anytime soon.

If you stopped responding then better to keep it that way for sure instead of contradicting yourself coz I don't even remember you!! No one is holding Allah responsible at all rather what I am saying is that such things like unrelenting heatwaves are signs of the world's end. You would know such things if you had basic understanding of Islam. How do you know both countries will come together, I believe your tarot card reader has given you the wrong information. It is not only "desi's" but things like water shortages will be hitting un-desi countries as well together with other environmental problems. Don't hit the door on your way out! I think you are probably 16 or something!
 
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If you stopped responding then better to keep it that way for sure instead of contradicting yourself coz I don't even remember you!! No one is holding Allah responsible at all rather what I am saying is that such things like unrelenting heatwaves are signs of the world's end. You would know such things if you had basic understanding of Islam. How do you know both countries will come together, I believe your tarot card reader has given you the wrong information. It is not only "desi's" but things like water shortages will be hitting un-desi countries as well together with other environmental problems. Don't hit the door on your way out! I think you are probably 16 or something!

I have a more than basic understanding of Islam but I have a more than basic understanding of science as well. If we considered every hardship we faced as the sign of the world’s end, we wouldn’t have reached this far. I didn’t mean to offend you, but sometimes you talk like a guy who hasn’t seen the world.

Both countries will come together because we have to survive. To survive is the basic instinct. I have seen well dressed gentlemen quietly requesting strangers for something to eat. Yes I’m sure I’m younger than you but maybe I have seen more of this world than you. I have seen both extremes.

And you talk as if Indians and Pakistanis are enemies by genetics that they can never come together. I have talked to Pakistanis and many of them are very, very nice people, unlike most of the confused overseas souls here :P . So you don’t worry bro, we’ll come together. You can sit in the UK and watch us progress!

The un-desi countries you talked about are even thinking of ways to protect their power grids from solar flares. They’re not sitting ducks.
 
When we are gone nothing else matters. Couldn't care less what happens in a hundred years time at all. Could be that the said signs will bring the world nearer it's end. If that is what Allah wants it will come to pass, no one can stop it.

Lol. The world will _not_ come to an end. Worse case scenario all humans die out, the Earth will still survive, current and new species that adapt quickly will survive and Earth will flourish again with life, even if it is not like we know it.

99 per cent of species existing have died out, nowt special about humans in that respect.
 
Lol. The world will _not_ come to an end. Worse case scenario all humans die out, the Earth will still survive, current and new species that adapt quickly will survive and Earth will flourish again with life, even if it is not like we know it.

99 per cent of species existing have died out, nowt special about humans in that respect.

The world will come to an end like through natural disasters coz everything including planet earth has a limited life span. We are surrounded by so many dangers, America alone can destroy the world ten times over ever mind the rest. Once the human species has died out there will be no one to continue our race. Just like the dinosaurs were made extinct so will we be.
 
The world will come to an end like through natural disasters coz everything including planet earth has a limited life span. We are surrounded by so many dangers, America alone can destroy the world ten times over ever mind the rest. Once the human species has died out there will be no one to continue our race. Just like the dinosaurs were made extinct so will we be.

Glad you said natural disasters and not a combination of God and Judgement Day.

Earth will survive all natural disasters, it will most likely last as long the Sun has fuel, current estimate 5 billion years. From today.
 
Glad you said natural disasters and not a combination of God and Judgement Day.

Earth will survive all natural disasters, it will most likely last as long the Sun has fuel, current estimate 5 billion years. From today.

Natural disasters are created by Allah! When the sun and moon die so will the planet. When all water ceases to exist we won't last a few days.
 
Natural disasters are created by Allah! When the sun and moon die so will the planet. When all water ceases to exist we won't last a few days.

Well the sun has got about 5 billion years left.

The moon is moving away from esrth at summat like 2 inches a year, in a few hundred thousans years it wont be in earths orbit.

Why does say earthquakes occur in specific places related to plate techtonics. Not sure but dont remember Australia suffering from earthquake, the Japanese seem to get in the neck. I cant believe that i am supposed to keep my incredulity in check when reading stuff like God kills say 300 people in earthquake and some would say that that is because there was a uptick in sodomy in the aera!

Is God causing the melting of the polar caps? Is He causing global warming? Was He the reason our neighbours garden shed just crumbled during a particular windy night?
 
Well the sun has got about 5 billion years left.

The moon is moving away from esrth at summat like 2 inches a year, in a few hundred thousans years it wont be in earths orbit.

Why does say earthquakes occur in specific places related to plate techtonics. Not sure but dont remember Australia suffering from earthquake, the Japanese seem to get in the neck. I cant believe that i am supposed to keep my incredulity in check when reading stuff like God kills say 300 people in earthquake and some would say that that is because there was a uptick in sodomy in the aera!

Is God causing the melting of the polar caps? Is He causing global warming? Was He the reason our neighbours garden shed just crumbled during a particular windy night?

If Allah says the world will come to an end then that's good enough for me. People will most likely end it through war then things like famine are contributing as well. Earthquakes are increasing all the time only that small ones often go unnoticed due to lack of impact. Then there are things like water shortages as well that don't help. Yes Allah is indirectly responsible for all natural calamities no doubt about it. Man doesn't help matters either by constantly abusing the earth.
 
If Allah says the world will come to an end then that's good enough for me. People will most likely end it through war then things like famine are contributing as well. Earthquakes are increasing all the time only that small ones often go unnoticed due to lack of impact. Then there are things like water shortages as well that don't help. Yes Allah is indirectly responsible for all natural calamities no doubt about it. Man doesn't help matters either by constantly abusing the earth.

All i am saying is when and not if the human race is no longer more, the Earth and other organisms more suited to the Earth (that was hsbitable by humans), will live on for a few billion years yet.
 
I’m old enough to remember warm Karachi summers, monsoon rains and cooler winters.
In 40 years the climate just in Karachi has changed immeasurably...

England had been similar but to a far less degree.

Change is not coming, it is here this is our Great War.
 
England had been similar but to a far less degree.

Change is not coming, it is here this is our Great War.

40 years the flora and fauna was totally different. It just goes by unnoticed, or retreats to more secluded areas of the country. The numbers of butterflies, ladybirds and sparrows are testament to that.
 
We'll be long gone by then, don;t worry.
yeah but your grandkids and their kids will have to pay for what this and past generations have done.
You will not leave some legacy or feel anything about the future era and nobody will care about you after you are gone. So stop bothering.
[MENTION=99723]boomboomcheema[/MENTION], [MENTION=141839]moghul[/MENTION]
I guess you're not married and don't have any kids as yet. Or perhaps are married but still don't have any kids. Otherwise you wouldn't be so callous about their future (and their kids futures).
 
nothing to worry about.

Allama Iqbal was right when he talked about our nations' immortality. Yunan-o-Misr-o-Roma sab mit gaye jahan se, ab tak magar hai baki naam-o-nishan hamara, kuch baat hai ke hasti mit-ti nahin hamari..
 
Over 17 killed in Karachi as city swelters under hot weather

More than 17 people were killed in Karachi over the last 24 hours, according to rescue officials as people sweltered in temperatures of over 40°C in the city.

The bodies of seven more individuals, aged between 35 to 60 years, were recovered from different areas of Karachi.

The rescue officials stated that most of the deceased were drug addicts who were unable to withstand the intense heat. The bodies were found in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Landhi, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Super Highway, and Federal B Area Karimabad.

All the bodies have been sent to the morgue, and the process of identifying the deceased is ongoing.

Authorities have urged the public to take necessary precautions and stay hydrated during this time of extreme weather conditions.


 
Everyone on this website will no longer be alive by then. The world will naturally come to an end one day that much is certain. Like the dinosaurs were wiped out so will human beings. Every country if it unleashes it's weapons right now will kill the world themselves 100 times over. Like Arnie talking about people in Terminator 2 said "it is in your nature to destroy yourselves".
 
Everyone on this website will no longer be alive by then. The world will naturally come to an end one day that much is certain. Like the dinosaurs were wiped out so will human beings. Every country if it unleashes it's weapons right now will kill the world themselves 100 times over. Like Arnie talking about people in Terminator 2 said "it is in your nature to destroy yourselves".
humans aren't going anywhere, even if global warming happened, or a deeper ice age, humans have survived before, and will again, maybe not in the same number, but they aren't getting wiped out. the future is interplanetary. i fully look forward to my digital avatar accessing pakpassion from the the central galatic information repository through a direct wireless connection, thinking posts into reality 500 years from now.
 
It's going to suck being poor in 20 years. No water, even hotter days.. I feel scared for Pakistan and North India in particular. Scary times ahead.
 
Weather is becoming more and more violent with every passing day.

SUmmers are becoming more and more hot and winters are getting cold.
 
Weather wise this was my worst summer in 15 years. Before that electricity was not privatized and 3-4 hours load shedding was huge pain. This year last 40 days were real pain. No rain meant severe heat (temperature 46-47 C) and severe ongoing water scarcity. Finally in last 2 days there is little rain and some cloud cover reducing daytime temperature to 40 C. Majority of Delhi residence are rationing water as taps are running dry. The only good thing is power availability is nearly 24/7.
I think before next summer everyone will be forced to tap into underground water. This too will be short term solution as this will make water table in Delhi very low.
 
The situation is going to look really bad in the subcotinent in another 15-20 years due to extreme heat. It is not going to go to the end of the century I am afraid, people will be dying a lot earlier than that during summers there. It is a big crisis.
 
humans aren't going anywhere, even if global warming happened, or a deeper ice age, humans have survived before, and will again, maybe not in the same number, but they aren't getting wiped out. the future is interplanetary. i fully look forward to my digital avatar accessing pakpassion from the the central galatic information repository through a direct wireless connection, thinking posts into reality 500 years from now.
That is a matter of faith. As a Muslim i have to believe that the world will one day come to a natural end. We only have to see the current state of the world with us being on the brink of WW3. The Prophet (saw) predicted Al-Malhama Al-Kubra the mother of all wars after which at least half of the world's population will be wiped out . Never mind 500 years people won't be here 100 years from now. This is something that scholars from all faiths agree on.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Malhama_Al-Kubra

 
That is a matter of faith. As a Muslim i have to believe that the world will one day come to a natural end. We only have to see the current state of the world with us being on the brink of WW3. The Prophet (saw) predicted Al-Malhama Al-Kubra the mother of all wars after which at least half of the world's population will be wiped out . Never mind 500 years people won't be here 100 years from now. This is something that scholars from all faiths agree on.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Malhama_Al-Kubra

but islam also states that no one but allah has knowledge of when the end times will be, im not religious, so i may be wrong, but to me apocalyptic thinking (in the sense of immenent doom-mongering) isn't endorsed by Islam, but i may be wrong.

either way, even if u take that as the signs of the end times, there have been far deadlier wars in history, the Chinese civil wars, or the mongol invasions (truly apocalyptic for the people who felt the brunt of them, in modern term it would be like one country killing 800 million people) killed far far more people per capita then any recent war.

i think even religious texts leave enough ground for people to argue that human demise isnt imminent, but as i said, i aint religious so i may be wrong.
 
but islam also states that no one but allah has knowledge of when the end times will be, im not religious, so i may be wrong, but to me apocalyptic thinking (in the sense of immenent doom-mongering) isn't endorsed by Islam, but i may be wrong.

either way, even if u take that as the signs of the end times, there have been far deadlier wars in history, the Chinese civil wars, or the mongol invasions (truly apocalyptic for the people who felt the brunt of them, in modern term it would be like one country killing 800 million people) killed far far more people per capita then any recent war.

i think even religious texts leave enough ground for people to argue that human demise isnt imminent, but as i said, i aint religious so i may be wrong.
The details have to be understood. There are signs as the what will happen prior to the end of life n earth. Much of those signs promised have already come to pass. We should be prepared for any eventuality like WW3, at least mentally and spiritually. No one wants to see it happen yet the current happenings in the world can't be denied either.

Throughout history there has never been nuke wars with these things flying all over the world. From my knowledge the end of times will be sometime this century. For believers in Islam it is imperative to have faith in qayamat and aakhitah.
 
Deaths mount as Pakistan swelters in heatwave

As the temperatures rose in southern Pakistan, so did the body count.

The Edhi ambulance service says it usually takes around 30 to 40 people to the Karachi city morgue daily.

But over the last six days, it has collected some 568 bodies - 141 of them on Tuesday alone.

It is too early to say exactly what the cause of death was in every case.

However, the rising numbers of dead came as temperatures in Karachi soared above 40C (104F), with the high humidity making it feel as hot as 49C, reports said.

People have been heading to hospitals seeking help.

Civil Hospital Karachi admitted 267 people with heatstroke between Sunday and Wednesday, said Dr Imran Sarwar Sheikh, head of the emergency department. Twelve of them died.

“Most of the people who we saw coming into the hospital were in their 60s or 70s, although there were some around 45 and even a couple in their 20s,” Dr Sheikh told the BBC.

Symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea and a high fever.

“Many of those we saw had been working outside. We’ve told them to make sure they drink plenty of water and wear light clothes in these high temperatures.”

The high temperatures - described as a “partial heatwave” by one meteorologist – began at the weekend.

Heatwave centres and camps were set up to try to provide relief to the public.

Pictures show children playing in fountains as they tried to cool off.

“Look at me! My clothes are totally drenched in sweat,” Mohammad Imran told Reuters news agency as he struggled to keep cool on Monday.

Not all those who needed help made it to hospital.

Wasim Ahmed knew he wasn’t feeling well when he arrived home.

The 56-year-old security guard had just finished a 12 hour overnight shift outside. Even then, he had found the temperatures too much.

“He came through the door and said I can’t deal with this hot weather,” Adnan Zafar, Wasim’s cousin, told the BBC. “He asked for a glass of water. Soon after he finished it, he collapsed.”

By the time Wasim’s family got him to hospital, the medics said he had already died of a suspected heart attack.

He had an existing heart condition, Adnan says, but he hadn’t suffered in the heat before.

Karachi’s struggle to cope with the high temperatures is, some fear, being made worse by regular power cuts which cut off the fans and air conditioning many rely on to keep cool.

Muhammad Amin was among those who was suffering with loadshedding - where the electricity supply was cut off; a common practice across Pakistan by the electricity board to try to preserve supply.

His relative says their flat experienced consistent constant power cuts.

According to his family, Muhammad who was in his 40s suddenly became sick, then died.

Cause of death has not been established, but his family suspect it was heat-related.

According to Dawn newspaper, almost 30 people have been found dead by emergency services on the city’s streets.

Many are suspected drug addicts, Police Surgeon Summaiya Syed told the newspaper. They did not, however, have any signs of injury.

Karachi is not the only part of Pakistan that is struggling to cope.

Last month, the province of Sindh - of which Karachi is the capital - recorded an almost record-breaking temperature of 52.2C, according to Reuters.

Pakistan's neighbours have been suffering from extreme, deadly temperatures in recent weeks as well.

Across the border in India, the capital Delhi has been enduring an “unprecedented” heatwave, with daily temperatures crossing 40C (104F) since May, peaking at nearly 50C.

Doctors in the city say they’ve never seen anything like it before.

For Karachi resident Mohammad Zeshan, it is clear what the problem is.

“This is due to climate change,” he told Reuters. “This is happening all around the world. This is happening in Europe. They have faced intense heat but they have taken steps about it.

“But here, it is sad that government has not taken any effective measures.”

Experts agree these sorts of extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense as a result of climate change.

The heatwave roasting Karachi is expected to last into next week, albeit with slightly lower temperatures forecast.

Weather experts are now turning their attention to the monsoon season, which is expected to arrive early and bring as much as 60% more rain, according to experts who spoke to Dawn.

BBC
 
Five more die from heatstroke in Karachi as humid weather persists

As citizens received little respite from excessive heat and humidity for the sixth consecutive day, five more patients being treated for heatstroke at different tertiary care hospitals died, sources told Dawn on Friday.

The maximum temperature recorded in the city was 39 degrees Celsius with 49 per cent relative humidity.

Hot winds blew across the city with occasional gaps and the city couldn’t see rain, at least till late evening hours, as was being expected in the light of met department’s forecast.

A Met department official explained that the low pressure area atmospheric pressure that brought about light rain in the city on Thursday had moved away. In addition, he said, the easterly winds reduced rain’s probability, though development of some cells might induce rain at night.

In its daily advisory, the Met department had forecast dust-thunderstorm/rain with isolated heavy falls on Friday with temperature ranging between 35-38°C.

On Saturday, Karachi is expected to have hot and humid weather with maximum temperature ranging between 36-38°C and 70 to 80pc relative humidity in the morning hours.

There are chances of thunderstorm/rain.

Five deaths

Sources said three male patients died at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre while the Indus Hospital and Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi reported one death each.

Sources said with this latest data, the total number of mortalities reported at those three tertiary care hospitals alone within a week now stood at 45. The mortalities included brought dead cases.

The actual number of cases, they said, was much higher as non-profit welfare organisations reported a three to four-fold increase in the number of dead bodies routinely received at their morgues.

These mortalities, they said, were likely to remain unaccounted for and ignored by the government.

“Most patients who died had other health complications. Hence, we can say that co-morbidity has been a major risk factor for mortality in cases of heatstroke,” a CHK doctor said.

Heatstroke, he explained, was a serious heat-related illness and occurred when the body could no longer control its temperature.

“The body’s temperature increases rapidly. The sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. When heatstroke occurs, the body temperature can rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes,” he said.

The three hospitals saw a significant decline in the number of heatstroke patients. A total of 26 and nine patients reported at the JPMC and Indus Hospital, respectively, on June 27. Twelve patients reported at CHK on Friday and late Thursday night.

DAWN
 
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