At least 10 found dead in Karachi amid intense heat

KARACHI: At least 10 people were found dead in different parts of Karachi in incidents that officials said may be linked to extreme heat and suspected drug overdoses, although the exact causes of several deaths have not yet been confirmed.

Rescue authorities said four of the victims were discovered in critical condition and later died during treatment, while six others were found dead at various locations, including homes, a mosque and public areas. The incidents have prompted concern over the effects of soaring temperatures in the city as well as substance abuse.

According to Chhipa Foundation spokesperson Chaudhry Shahid, several bodies were recovered from separate neighbourhoods. He said an unidentified 35-year-old man was found near Saima Arabian Villas in Manghopir, while another unidentified man, believed to be about 50 years old, was recovered near Noor Hotel in Gulshan-e-Hadeed. A third unidentified man, aged 36, was found near Khayaban-e-Saqib in Defence Phase VIII.

Chhipa officials said these three deaths were believed to have resulted from excessive drug use during hot weather.

In Clifton’s Boat Basin area, an unidentified man, around 60 years old, was found in critical condition and shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, where he later died. A man estimated to be 50 was also found unconscious under the Liaquatabad No 10 bridge and taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where he died during treatment. Another man, around 45 years old, was discovered unconscious near Jamali Bridge on the Super Highway and also died after being taken to hospital.

In Surjani Town, a 50-year-old man identified as Dur Muhammad was found in a critical condition on a roadside and later died at Jinnah Hospital. In Baldia, a 55-year-old man, Abdul Wadud, was found dead near Tayyaba Mosque on SUPARCO Road. Officials said he may have died because of the severity of the heat.

In Mauripur, a 70-year-old man identified as Zaheer was found dead inside his house near Nala Stop. Initial assessments suggested that extreme weather conditions may have played a role in his death.

In another case, a man believed to be around 42 years old was found dead inside Usmania Mosque in North Karachi Sector 5-D/3. Edhi Foundation officials said the deceased had come to the mosque to offer prayers. His identity could not immediately be established, and the cause of death remained unclear.

Police identification efforts under way

Police said at least eight bodies had been recovered in related incidents and that efforts were continuing to establish identities through search and verification devices. Authorities have instructed police, hospitals and rescue services to coordinate in order to speed up the identification process.

So far, three of the deceased have been identified. In the Docks area, a body recovered from inside a residence was identified as 80-year-old Abdul Zaheer. Police said there was no fan in the house, indicating that the death may have been caused by exposure to extreme heat. His family is reportedly in Bangladesh.

Another body found near a mosque on SUPARCO Road was identified as Abdul Wadud, a resident of Mochko. Separately, a man found dead inside a rickshaw in Manghopir was identified as Gulzar, a rickshaw driver.

Police officials said the identity of at least one body recovered from Liaquatabad could not be determined through the available search systems, and attempts were continuing to identify the remaining deceased.

Authorities have not issued a consolidated report on the causes of death. However, initial assessments indicate that heat-related stress and suspected drug overdoses were among the contributing factors. The deaths were reported as temperatures continued to rise in Karachi, increasing risks for vulnerable people.