Two Karachi Men Die After Inhaling Toxic Gases in Water Tank; Four Hospitalized

In a tragic incident, two men died after inhaling toxic gases while cleaning an underground water tank of a residential project in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Karachi, on Thursday. Four others who attempted to rescue them also became unconscious and were hospitalized for treatment.

The mishap underscores the critical importance of proper training and protective equipment for tasks involving hazardous environments.

Incident Details

According to Rescue-1122 official Hassaan Khan, the incident occurred at the Falak Naz residential project in Block-18, Gulistan-e-Jauhar. Two employees had descended into a large underground water tank to clean it. However, they were not equipped with masks or any protective gear.

When the two men did not return after a considerable time, four other employees entered the tank to rescue them. Unfortunately, they too were overcome by the toxic gases and became unconscious.

Realizing the severity of the situation, residents alerted Rescue-1122, whose Urban Search and Rescue Team arrived promptly with disaster response equipment and ambulances.

Casualties and Hospitalization

The two deceased were identified as Moid, 40, and Ahmed, 30. They were declared dead on arrival at a nearby private hospital. Three other employees—Sartaj, 20, Haider, 25, and Noor, 27—were admitted for treatment. A minor who also attempted to help was provided first aid on the spot.

"The deaths appear to have been caused by toxic gases present in the tank," stated Mr. Khan.

After the incident, the rescue team cleared the water tank of the toxic gases to prevent further harm.

Guard Shot Dead in Accidental Fire

In a separate incident, a private security guard was killed in what appeared to be an accidental firearm discharge in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) on Thursday.

According to Sahil SHO Iftikhar Arain, the rifle of Muhammad Noman, 30, accidentally went off at Zulfiqar Commercial. The bullet struck his chest, leading to his death.

Noman was working as a guard at an under-construction bungalow. His body was taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for medico-legal formalities.

Urgent Need for Safety Measures

These incidents highlight critical safety gaps in urban environments, from workplace safety protocols to firearm handling. Authorities must emphasize training, equipment, and awareness campaigns to prevent such tragedies in the future.