Federal, Sindh convene high-level meeting in wake of Keamari incident

Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi and Provincial Minister for Local Government Sindh Nasir Hussain Shah co-chaired high level meeting in the wake of saddening Keamari Incident in Karachi.

During the meeting, the participants expressed concerns over the situation that not only affected more than two hundred residents of Keamari and its adjoining areas, but also expressed grief over the loss of precious lives.

A committee was formed to probe into the matter further for ascertaining the root cause and determine the reasons for the incident.

Death toll due to suspected gas leak in the Keamari area of Karachi has risen to fourteen, Bol news reported on Tuesday.

The gas leak, reported first late Sunday night, caused panic as people rushed to hospitals, complaining of respiratory problems, police officials and doctors said.

Authorities said the real cause of the incident could not be ascertained.

Sources said the leakage occurred during the offloading of chemicals from a cargo ship anchored at Keamari Jetty.

The deceased included two women as well.

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Ali Zaidi said a team of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defence (NBCD) under Pakistan Navy was engaged in chemical analysis of the unidentified gas.

Pakistani scientist, Dr Atta ur Rahman said that the poisonous gas in the Kemari was produced by Soybean.

Speaking exclusively to BOL News, the President of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Science and Technology Task Force, Dr Atta ur Rahman confirmed that many people died in Kemari because of the gas spreading from soybean compounds.

Dr Ata ur Rahman said that air pollution was being created from offloading soybeans from the anchor-style ships at Karachi port and this uploading has now been halted.