Asif Shaikh The report by the Global Environmental Laboratory revealed on Tuesday that the air in Keamari area of the city has toxic levels of hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide. The said Laboratory is one of the certified laboratories of the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA). “The levels of all air pollutants were found to be higher than allowable limit when monitored at midnight,” the report said. Hydrogen sulphide was found to be at 661 parts per billion (ppb) and sulphur dioxide at 1420 ppb. There should be no hydrogen sulphide in healthy air. Particulate matter was found to be at 1155, whereas the acceptable level is 150. The laboratory said a more detailed and accurate report can be produced if they were allowed to test the air samples in the areas where people had died. They tested the air around Ziauddin Hospital in Keamari. Meanwhile, a SEPA official, who asked not to named, said that initial observation suggested the reagent could be hydrogen sulphide. Asked whether the symptoms being reported by the victims were in line with their assessment of the reagent, the official said that some of the symptoms were similar. Sindh Minister for Information Nasir Shah has said that the investigation into the toxic gas leak in Karachi’s Keamari is still underway and the results will become available in a few hours. He was speaking at a press conference at Commissioner Office Tuesday afternoon. “Right now we cannot say what it [the gas] is conclusively. We thought the results will be available which is why we called this press conference,” he said. “Getting to the root of the problem has been a big issue.” He said the University of Karachi and the Pakistan Navy’s Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defence unit are still investigating the cause of the gas leak. Shah reassured the public that the gas leak was limited to Keamari. Furthermore, a protest was held at Jackson Market area by angry residents who demanded an explanation from authorities regarding the leakage of lethal gas, which has so farclaimed at least 14 lives.The demonstrators also demanded the resignation of Maritime Affairs Minister Ali Zaidi. On Tuesday afternoon, most of the shops in Jackson Market were closed but the marketplace was flooded with people, some of whom were wearing surgical masks or had wrapped a cloth around their faces. The protest resulted in a massive traffic jam on Napier Mole Road — the main artery connecting the KPT interchange to the port, via Jackson Market. The Sindh Cabinet meeting to be held on Tuesday was postponed amid mysterious toxic gas leakage issue. According to spokesperson of Sindh CM, the meeting will now be held on Wednesday (Today) at 3pm.
