The death toll from poisonous gas leakage on Monday in the coastal residential area of Kemari in Karachi climbed to eight as two more people died.
The Sindh Health Department confirmed the 7th death from the gas leak at the Ziauddin Hospital late Monday while another man died later at the KPT Hospital.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Monday night visited Ziauddin Hospital and Jinnah Hospital to meet the gas-affected persons. He also directed the administration to use all resources to provide best treatment to the patients.
On Monday, the Custom House was evacuated in the wake of poisonous gas leakage in Karachi's Kemari area, on Sunday night that claimed six lives and over 100 people were affected.
According to details, the death toll in poisonous gas leakage in Kemari climbed to six and over 100 affected were shifted to hospital for treatment.
According to the Custom House spokesman, the customs house was evacuated following the orders for the staff to leave the customs house.
Kemari union councilor Asif Khan said that people were also affected in the Customs House, KICT and PICT.
The cause of the incident is yet to be known, said police. However, there were unconfirmed reports that some chemicals had leaked from a recent shipment at the Keamari dockyard.
The death toll has been confirmed by Kemari's vice chairman.
The affected people have been shifted to Ziauddin Hospital as they are facing problems while breathing due to the poisonous gas. As a large number of patients started approaching the hospitals, the authorities declared an emergency in all the major hospitals across the city. Over 100 affected people shifted to Ziauddin hospital, 22 to Katiana, 8 to Jinnah and 2 to the civil hospital.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and Federal Maritime Affairs Minister Ali Zaidi expressed sorrow over the deaths.
"I have directed the KPT to investigate and establish facts. Meanwhile, the KPT has also been directed to treat the patients at the KPT hospital in Keamari. Rest assured, details of the sad incident will be shared in due course and those responsible will be dealt with severely
On the other hand, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has taken notice of the toxic gas incident. He has expressed grief over the demise of four persons.
The chief minister has also summoned a detailed report from the commissioner of Karachi, besides ordering the officials to provide all possible medical facilities to patients.
On Sunday night, At least five-person was killed and fifty others affected when poisonous gas spread in Karachi's Kemari.
