KARACHI: A stampede at the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) camp in Karachi’s Keamari area has left one woman dead and 8 women injured, as they queued to receive the government-funded stipend on Monday.
Rescue vehicles rushed to the scene and shifted injured women to the Civil Hospital for treatment. Rescue officials indicated that one woman’s condition was critical in the wake of the incident.
Amidst a deteriorating economic crisis, numerous job losses have been reported in Pakistan as industries shut down. The government faces challenges reviving a stagnant International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.
The economic turmoil in the country has led to an incessant rise in inflation, with the annual rate reaching 34.05%.
Baldia Superintendent of Police (SP) Mughees Hashmi said 8 women were injured and unconscious, while four others were transported to the hospital for medical assistance with those injured.
“People were being sent away from time to time due to lack of space in the school,” he said.
The BISP camp, the police said, was set up at the KPT School. They added that a large number of women and children were present outside the school.
“The stampede took place as they rushed to get inside the gate after it opened, while the number of people there was high,” the police said.
He added that numerous women fainted at the location due to the heat. “The women fell as a result of a slope at the gate’s opening,” SP Baldia said.
A woman, who was also present at the site, said they were called in to receive BISP money.
