Two extremes are colliding in Sindh this year. Upper districts have already endured weeks of dangerous heat, and now monsoon rain is due to arrive in the first week of July. For families in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and beyond, that means planning for sun and flood risk in the same fortnight.
This guide by Sindh Integrated Emergency & Health Services (SIEHS) explains how to stay safe through heat, humidity, windstorms, rain, flooding, dengue risk, diarrhoea, and snake bites. It also explains exactly when to call 1122 for an ambulance and when to call 1123 for free medical advice through the Tele Tabeeb 1123 Telemedicine Service.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, heatwave conditions between 7–12 June 2026 pushed temperatures to 48–51°C in Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Dadu, Ghotki, Khairpur and Shaheed Benazirabad. PMD has also forecast rain-wind and thundershower activity across Sukkur, Larkana, Dadu, Jacobabad and nearby upper Sindh districts on 3–4 July, marking the start of this year’s monsoon spell.
Sindh’s weather can turn within hours in July. One day may bring extreme heat and humidity; the next may bring dust, thunder, lightning, blocked roads, standing water and power cuts.
Safety planning should therefore never focus on heat alone. It needs to cover rain-linked risks too, including:
• Heat exhaustion and heatstroke• Dehydration and low blood pressure• Road accidents during rain• Electric shock from exposed wiring• Water-borne disease• Dengue and malaria• Snake bites in rural and flood-affected areas• Delayed access to hospitals when roads are unsafe
PMD’s outlook for July 2026 also points to above-normal temperatures continuing across large parts of the country, with the highest risk during outdoor exposure between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm.
Karachi’s flooding pattern differs from upper Sindh’s. The city’s ageing drainage network, low-lying underpasses and dense traffic mean even moderate rainfall can cause standing water within an hour, particularly around Korangi, Malir, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Lyari and coastal kachi abadis.
If you live in a flood-prone neighbourhood in Karachi, agree on an evacuation point with your family in advance and save the SIEHS emergency numbers before the rain starts, not during it. For ambulance service Karachi support in a life-threatening emergency, call 1122.
Rain can bring welcome relief from heat, but it can create new dangers within minutes.
In cities, heavy rain floods roads and underpasses fast. In rural areas, it affects kacha routes, low-lying homes, livestock shelters and farmland. Preparing early makes the biggest difference.
• Charge your phone and power bank.• Save emergency numbers: 1122 and 1123.• Store drinking water safely.• Check your roof, drains and electrical wiring.• Move medicines and documents to a dry place.• Keep ORS sachets at home.• Avoid parking under weak trees or billboards.• Secure loose items on rooftops and balconies.
Follow live advisories from PMD and PDMA Sindh during weather days, as both agencies issue updated hazard information on rain, flooding, heatwaves, cyclones, and drought.
Do not underestimate moving water. Even shallow water can hide open gutters, broken road surfaces, glass, metal or live electric wires.
Stay indoors when wind, lightning or heavy rain begins. If you must travel, avoid flooded roads, underpasses, open drains and areas near fallen poles.
Keep children away from floodwater altogether. It may look like ordinary rainwater, but the CDC warns that contaminated floodwater can cause diarrheal disease if it is swallowed or used for food and hygiene.
A heatwave becomes dangerous once the body can no longer cool itself. This matters most for children, elderly people, pregnant women, outdoor workers, people with heart disease, and anyone working near roads, farms, markets, kitchens, or construction sites.
• Heavy sweating• Weakness or dizziness• Headache• Nausea or vomiting• Muscle cramps• Fast heartbeat• Extreme thirst• Fainting
Heatstroke is a medical emergency. Call 1122 immediately if the person shows:
• Confusion or slurred speech• Loss of consciousness• Seizures• Very high body temperature• Hot, dry or heavily sweating skin• Rapid heartbeat
The CDC describes heatstroke as the most serious heat-related illness, capable of causing permanent disability or death if treatment is delayed.
Move the person to shade or a cooler room. Remove excess clothing and apply cool, wet cloths to the neck, armpits and groin. Fan the person if possible.
Offer small sips of water only if the person is awake and able to swallow safely. Never force water into the mouth of someone who is unconscious, confused or vomiting.
Knowing the difference can save valuable time.
Call 1122 whenever there is immediate danger to life or it is unsafe to move the person. Examples include:
• Heatstroke symptoms• Loss of consciousness• Chest pain or breathing difficulty• Severe dehydration• Severe road accidents• Electric shock• Snake bite• Severe bleeding• Injury during rain or flooding
SIEHS provides a Free Emergency Ambulance Service in Sindh – SIEHS 1122, offering 24/7 emergency ambulance response, rapid emergency response, patient transport and rapid pre-hospital medical care across the province. The service is supported by trained emergency medical technicians and emergency vehicles equipped with advanced life-support systems where required.
SIEHS provides Emergency Ambulance Coverage Across Sindh, including Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas, Tharparkar, Nawabshah and Dadu. Whether families are searching for free ambulance Sindh support, emergency ambulance Hyderabad assistance, or a 24/7 emergency ambulance response in another district, 1122 is the number to save.
Call Tele Tabeeb 1123 when you need medical guidance but may not need an ambulance immediately. Examples include:
• Heat exhaustion symptoms• Fever after rain• Mild dehydration• Vomiting or diarrhoea• Dengue-like symptoms• Skin rash after exposure to dirty water• Medication questions• Uncertainty about whether a hospital visit is needed
Tele Tabeeb 1123 Telemedicine Service is a free government telemedicine service operated by SIEHS, offering 24/7 access to PMDC-certified doctors and licensed mental health professionals by phone, with no fee and no registration. This 24-hour telemedicine platform can help with a preliminary diagnosis, basic medical guidance and advice on whether a patient needs an ambulance, hospital visit or home care.
Heat, humidity, dirty water and mosquitoes tend to arrive together once the rains begin, and each brings a distinct risk.
Rainwater can mix with sewage, drain water and waste, which is why stomach infections often rise after heavy rain.
Use boiled, bottled or properly treated water if contamination is possible. Wash hands before meals and after using the toilet, keep food covered, and avoid anything exposed to flies or floodwater.
Seek help quickly if there is blood in the stool, repeated vomiting, sunken eyes, extreme weakness, a dry mouth, no urine output, or diarrhoea in a baby or elderly person.
After rain, mosquitoes breed rapidly in clean standing water collecting in buckets, tyres, flowerpots, roof corners, coolers and broken containers.
The WHO states that dengue spreads through mosquito bites and can become severe, making bite prevention the most effective protection available.
Wet clothes, sweat, dirty water, and friction can all cause rashes, and floodwater can infect existing cuts and wounds.
After exposure to dirty rainwater, wash with clean water and soap, then dry the skin thoroughly, particularly between the toes, underarms, groin and skin folds.
Do not scratch the rash or apply steroid creams without medical advice. If the rash spreads, becomes painful, develops pus, or is accompanied by fever, call 1123 or visit a health facility.
Rain disturbs fields, drains, burrows, and low-lying areas, which increases the chance of snake bites during monsoon months.
Do not cut the wound, attempt to suck out venom, apply ice, use a tight tourniquet, or give alcohol or herbal remedies. The WHO advises that anyone bitten by a suspected venomous snake should reach a health facility without delay, and warns specifically against traditional methods such as incision, suction and black stones.
• Keep ORS and clean water at home.• Avoid outdoor work between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm.• Wear loose, light clothing.• Check on elderly relatives twice a day.• Give children regular water breaks.• Never leave anyone inside a parked vehicle.• Keep curtains closed during peak heat.• Use fans, shade and wet cloths if cooling is limited.
• Keep torches and spare batteries ready.• Never touch switches with wet hands.• Stay away from fallen wires.• Avoid walking through floodwater.• Keep children indoors during lightning.• Store food and water safely.• Keep footwear near the door.• Save 1122 and 1123 on every phone in the household.
Beyond the specific dos and don’ts already covered above, three habits consistently delay treatment and should be avoided regardless of the emergency type:
• Treating heatstroke as an ordinary fever and waiting to see if it passes.• Driving through flooded underpasses rather than turning back.• Waiting overnight with severe symptoms instead of calling 1123 early for guidance.
Asking early is always safer than reacting late.
Sindh’s 2026 weather does not offer a break between crises; the heatwave threat has not passed, and the monsoon brings its own list of dangers, from flooding and electric hazards to dengue and snake bites. Treating them as separate problems is what leads families to be underprepared for one while focused on the other.
The most effective response is still the simplest: stay informed through PMD and PDMA advisories, hydrate properly, avoid peak heat hours, rain-proof your home before the first storm, and know which number to call before you need it. Save both 1122 and 1123 now, share them with your household, and keep this guide within reach through the rest of the season. Through Emergency Health Services in Sindh, community healthcare programs across Sindh, the SIEHS 1122 Emergency Ambulance Service and the Tele Tabeeb 1123 Telemedicine Service, SIEHS continues to support families before, during, and after weather-related emergencies.
When is monsoon rain expected in Sindh in 2026?PMD’s 29 June 2026 press release forecast monsoon rain during the first week of July, with rain-wind and thundershower activity expected in several upper Sindh districts on 3–4 July.
What are the peak heatwave hours in Karachi?Avoid outdoor exposure between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm, drink safe water, use ORS when needed, wear loose clothing, and check on children, elderly people and outdoor workers.
Who should I call in a weather emergency in Sindh?For any life-threatening weather emergency in Sindh, call 1122 immediately. This includes heatstroke, fainting, breathing difficulty, electric shock, road accidents during rain, snake bites, severe dehydration, flooding injuries, or any situation where urgent ambulance support is needed. SIEHS 1122 provides free 24/7 emergency ambulance services across Sindh
What is the ambulance number in Sindh?The ambulance number in Sindh is 1122 for emergencies. It connects people to free emergency ambulance services and rapid pre-hospital medical care where urgent help is needed.
When should I call 1123?Call Tele Tabeeb 1123 for free doctor advice on fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, heat exhaustion, dengue-like symptoms, skin rash, medication questions, or uncertainty about whether a hospital visit is needed.
How can families in Karachi prevent monsoon-related disease?Use safe drinking water, wash hands with soap, keep food covered, remove standing water near the home, use mosquito protection, keep children away from floodwater, and seek medical advice early rather than waiting.
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