The flooding following rains in citiesa and villages across Sindh has forced reptiles, including snakes, to leave their flooded hiding places. This has resulted in an increase in snakebite cases, with at least 22 reported cases in the last five days.

The majority of the victims, admitted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, are from different areas of Sindh. They say they had to come to Karachi to seek treatment as vaccines weren’t available in the area.

Of the 22 cases, two cases are from Sakro, 10 from Thatta, and one each from Dadu and Gadani.

Sindh Health Department Director General Health Dr Jumman Bhutto, meanwhile, says there are 29,000 snakebite vaccines available at health facilities across Sindh.

He said his department was investigating the reason behind routing patients to Karachi.