Lal Shahbaz urs: Sehwan heat wave leaves 10 dead

Devotees gather to mark the 763rd urs celebrations of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar (RA)

At least 10 devotees have died in a heatwave that swept across Sehwan, Express News reported on Saturday.

The devotees had gathered to mark the 763rd Urs celebrations of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar (RA) which formally commence in Sehwan from today.

The mercury has peaked to 42 degrees centigrade on Saturday.

Read: 763rd Anniversary: Lal Shahbaz’s urs starts today

Tens of thousands of devotees, mostly from Sindh and Punjab, have gathered at the small town during the three-day event.

Last year, during the urs, severe temperatures claimed 53 lives.

Read: Lal Shahbaz urs: Sehwan heat wave leaves 53 dead in 4 days

The local administration had claimed that they would provide the pilgrims with cold water and make other necessary arrangements for them. However, the promises were not met.

Earlier, provincial advisor Dr Abdul Qayum Soomro inaugurated the Urs by laying floral wreaths at the shrine of the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.

An agricultural exhibition, traditional wrestling and cattle show were also organised to provide activities for the visitors.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of devotees descend on Sehwan to pay tribute to the saint for a three-day festival.

However, like previous years, facilities such as accommodation, water, transport and cleanliness remained incommensurate while prolonged power outages exacerbated the misery of visitors.

Besides, the hotels and guest houses, a large number of people sub-let their homes to the visitors at high rent. Yet, all visitors could not be accommodated.

Meanwhile, former president Asif Ali Zardari took notice of nearly a dozen people losing their lives to the heat wave during the pilgrimage and asked the relevant authorities to ensure provision of cold water, ice and other facilities free of cost to the devotees.

The co-chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) also expressed anger on the authorities’ lack of attention to deliver the facilities despite claims.

20 violators held

Meanwhile, police arrested at least 20 people for violating the section 144 imposed to prevent them from swimming in the town's waterways.

The activity provides much relief to the dwellers of the town troubled by the hot and humid climate.