Karachi’s Independence Day celebrations have turned deadly as aerial firing left one woman dead and 94 people injured, including 17 children, rescue officials said.

An Edhi Foundation spokesperson said the injured included 59 men, 17 children and 10 women. The wounded were shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Civil Hospital and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for treatment.

Abbasi Shaheed Hospital received 24 injured people, while Jinnah Hospital treated 35 patients. Civil Hospital’s trauma centre treated another 26 people during the night.

The firing incidents were reported from several parts of Karachi, including Lyari, Saddar, Korangi, Malir, Azizabad, North Nazimabad, Nazimabad, Gulbahar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Orangi Town, Jamshed Quarters and Defence.

Police have arrested more than 30 suspects allegedly involved in aerial firing across the city’s eastern, western and central districts. Several weapons were also recovered during the arrests.

Police said a security guard was arrested in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, while two other suspects were detained in Orangi Town and Iqbal Market over alleged involvement in celebratory firing.

In a separate incident in Paposh Nagar’s Sarafa Bazaar, a woman died after a pistol allegedly discharged accidentally while being handled. Police arrested her cousin, Imran, and recovered a 9mm pistol.

Authorities have repeatedly warned citizens against aerial firing, saying bullets fired into the air can return to the ground and cause serious injuries or deaths.

Karachi has faced similar tragedies in previous years, highlighting the dangers of celebrating Independence Day with weapons.