Illegal factories shut after toxic gas kills 18

Five arrested over Karachi tragedy as opposition demands judicial probe

The Karachi administration has sprung into action and sealed at least two illegal factories whose toxic emissions allegedly caused the death of 18 people in an underprivileged rural area in the city’s suburbs.

The tragic incident occurred in the Union Committee No 18, Ali Muhammad Goth, of District Keamari in Karachi, where mysterious deaths were reported between January 10 and January 25.

The victims, who included persons of all age groups, developed fever, shortness of breath and throat infection before succumbing to the symptoms five to seven days after taking ill.

Local residents complained of irritation and the odour of chemicals ostensibly discharged from nearby factories, most of which produce plastic. Police arrested five persons associated with unauthorised industrial units.

Leader of Opposition in Sindh Assembly, Haleem Adil Sheikh, who went to the affected area to meet residents demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident and demanded the provincial government pay financial compensation to next of kin of the victims.

He blamed the relevant departments of the Sindh government whose connivance allowed the setting up of such industrial units that endangered the lives of people in the nearby areas.

Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, asked Karachi’s Commissioner, Health, Industries, and Labour departments of his government to thoroughly probe the incident.

He asked the officials concerned to make sure that the investigation should determine the nature of industrial gases that had brought harm to nearby residents.

He asked the authorities to inspect all industrial plants whose emissions could endanger human lives. He asked the officials to provide him with the report of a thorough investigation into the tragedy and also brief him about action taken.