- A five-year-old boy tragically died, and six family members were hospitalized after inhaling insecticide fumes at their home in DHA, Karachi, following a fumigation on Wednesday.
- The affected family, including Dr. Zia-ud-Din Sheikh, his wife, and their four other children, were initially treated at South City Hospital and later transferred to Aga Khan University Hospital, where their condition stabilized.
- The family described the incident as an accident caused by the fumigation and chose not to pursue any legal action.
A tragic incident occurred on Thursday when a child lost his life, and six members of his family fell unconscious after inhaling fumes from insecticide sprayed in their home in the Defence Housing Authority area, according to police.
South DIG Syed Asad Raza informed Dawn that Dr. Zia-ud-Din Sheikh had his house, located near Khayaban-i-Seher in Phase VI, fumigated on Wednesday.
By 11 p.m. on Thursday, all seven family members lost consciousness. They were rushed to South City Hospital in Clifton, where a five-year-old boy, Moin-ud-Din, was declared dead upon arrival. The rest of the family, including Dr. Zia-ud-Din Sheikh, his wife, and their children—16-year-old Zahra, 13-year-old Zohair, 11-year-old Shah Zain, and eight-year-old Jannat—were admitted for medical treatment.
Dr. Zia-ud-Din Sheikh, the owner of Sir Syed Hospital in Qayyumabad, was later transferred along with his family to the Aga Khan University Hospital for further care. Darakshan police SHO Shahid Khan reported that their condition had stabilized.
The family informed police that the incident was accidental due to the fumigation and expressed their desire to avoid legal action.
Safety Measures During Fumigation
Here are essential safety measures that should be taken during fumigation:
- Vacate the Premises: Ensure all family members, pets, and even plants are removed from the house during and for several hours after fumigation to avoid exposure to harmful chemicals.
- Proper Ventilation: After fumigation, ventilate the house thoroughly by opening windows and doors to disperse any residual fumes before re-entering.
- Follow Professional Guidelines: Hire trained and certified professionals for fumigation and strictly adhere to their safety instructions regarding re-entry time and post-fumigation procedures.
- Secure Food and Utensils: Remove or cover all food items, cookware, and eating utensils to prevent contamination by chemicals.
- Inform Neighbors: Notify nearby residents about the fumigation to avoid accidental exposure to fumes.
- Protect Sensitive Areas: Seal off air ducts, electrical outlets, and other openings to limit chemical spread to unintended areas.
- Read Labels: Carefully review the safety instructions and warnings provided with the insecticide or fumigation chemicals being used.
- Use Alternatives When Possible: Consider less hazardous pest control methods like traps or localized treatments if feasible.
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