KARACHI: Four persons died and over a dozen people were shifted to hospitals after they became unconscious because of a mysterious gas leakage in Keamari on Sunday evening, police said.

DIG-South Sharjeel Kharal told Dawn that four persons, including a woman, died and 14 were being treated at a private hospital in Clifton. He said that the condition of those getting treatment was said to be stable.

The DIG said the police were investigating the matter as no real reason was found till late in the night.

But according to initial reports, he said, the gas leakage might involve a ship that brought vegetables to the port.

Teams of Karachi Port Trust, Navy, health department and other authorities were reaching the scene to ascertain the exact cause of the incident, the DIG said.

Earlier, Jackson SHO Malik Adil Khan said that the affected persons were facing immense hardship in breathing and they were rushed to different hospitals.

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah took notice of the “death of four persons” in the incident and directed the authorities to find out what had exactly happened.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2020