A severe heat wave persisted for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, claiming the lives of at least 30 people across the country.
The intense hot weather disrupted business activities and power outages added to the miseries of the people, forcing many to pray for divine intervention. The outages lengthened as the overall demand-supply gap again widened to 4,000 megwatts.
Meoteorological Department officials expect a reduction in the heat wave intensity over the next 24 hours. Mercury shot up to 43°C in Lahore and the condition was worsened by dusty winds. The same conditions are expected on Wednesday.
In Gujranwala, temperatures soared to 50°C, while it was 47°C in and Sargodha.
The heat wave appears to have centred on southern Punjab, including Multan, where 200 children were brought to hospitals on account of heat stroke and stomach ailments.
Three people each are reported to have died in Karachi and Vihari, two each in Narowal, Farooqabad, Gujranwala, Narang Mandi, Qila Kalarwala, Gakhar Mandi and Mianwali and one each in Rahimyar Khan, Chichawatni, Rajanpur Kalan, Chachran Sharif, Shorkot, Kamalia and Aminabad.
An old man died at the Pir Mahal railway station. Three people drowned in Jalalpur Jattan while bathing in the River Chenab.
The weather will remain hot and dry in most of the country, while dusty winds and light rains are expected in the evening in Kashmir, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargodha, Malakand, Hazara division, Peshawar and Kohat division.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 23rd, 2010.
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