A record breaking heat wave has killed over 200 people in Pakistan over the weekend, with temperatures soaring above 112 degrees Fahrenheit - the highest recorded in the past 15 years. The monsoon rains can't come soon enough.
"Hospitals across the city are overcrowded due to record numbers of patients suffering from heat stroke," said Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar, the health minister for Sindh province, in an interview with CNN. "The numbers are unprecedented but the situation is under control."
Despite the optimism, the Sindh government has declared a state of emergency in Karachi hospitals, cancelling medical staff holidays and remaining on high alert for additional patients. Heat-related ailments include fever, dehydration, and gastrointestinal issues, with the elderly among the worst hit and accounting for the most deaths.
The situation is compounded by the calendar - Pakistanis are observing Ramadan, which means Muslims will be fasting from sunup until sundown, forgoing food and water. Frequent power outages have also added to the threat, as electricity grids in Karachi struggle to keep up with demand.
If conditions don't improve, Pakistan could mirror the deadly situation in India, where over the past month more than 2,000 have died during a blistering heat wave where temps soared to 116 degrees. In some regions, temperatures only dipped to 86 degrees at night, and residents are eagerly awaiting the cooling monsoon rains.
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