The toxic gas spreading Kiamari near Karachi Port has been increasing. The sources of the ga leakage/spread have remained unknown even on its second day of spread.
According to the Dr. Ziauddin Hospital spokesperson Amir Shehzad, the death toll of the patients coming from the Kamari area has increased to 11, while the complaints about the respiratory problems by affected has increased to more than 250.
If there was any leak of poisonous gas from a ship, we would have had casualties on the docks or from the crew, but that is not the case.
Therefore, as repeatedly requested last night, please stop spreading & believing in rumors.
Once we have the report, we will inform all.— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) February 17, 2020
Moreover, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Executive Director Dr. Seemin Jamali said,” 27 patients have visited the JPMC from Kiamari area of Karachi and all complained about breathing problems.”
he incident happened on Sunday evening in the Keamari area of Karachi. It is suspected that it emerged due to the gas leakage in the Karachi port area. The suspected gas leakage left 11persons including 2 women dead in Ziauddin Hospital, Karachi.
There were unconfirmed reports that some chemicals had leaked from a recent shipment at the Keamari dockyard. The arrival of ships at the port is restrained by the Karachi Port Trust due to the gas leakage incident, said the minister.
Read more:Â Gas shortage in Pakistan leads another chilly winter
The Minister for Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Ali Zaidi visited the hospital and directed the hospital administration for better treatment of the patients coming from Kiamari complaining about respiratory problems.
Mister for Maritime Affairs denied leakage of gas
Moreover, the Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Ali Zaidi, expressed grief over the loss of lives and directed the port authorities to investigate the incident. The minister said that the incident did not occur on the port premises, while the matter is under investigation.
The mister also visited the Karachi Port area today on Feb 18 and tweeted that the incident was not the outcome of gas leakage at the port area.
KPT denies gas leakage
Karachi Port Trust (KPT) chairman Jamil Akhter on Monday said the port was functioning normally. “All terminals have been checked and from nowhere, gas leakage has taken place,” he claimed.
I took a tour of the whole Harbour today at KPT. It was business as usual with ships docked and cargo loading/unloading. Nothing unusual. pic.twitter.com/UJTj6oyWHy
— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) February 17, 2020
He had said that news being spread on social media about the gas leakage from the port was wrong and untrue.
“I assure you that gas leakage has not taken place from the port,” he said. Akhter said that all berths at the KPT were being examined.