Beating the heat: Lahoris throng the Canal despite ban

Several youngsters arrested for bathing in the canal.

LAHORE: As the maximum temperature in shade rose to 42 Celsius on Sunday, hundreds of people thronged the length of the Lahore Branch Canal to get respite from the sweltering weather.

Despite a standing ban on bathing in the canal, scores of women and the elderly were seen taking dips in the cool water. The city district government has imposed Section 144 on bathing in the canal to prevent deaths from drowning.

The police cracked down on revellers in Mughalpura, Harbanspura, Burki and Chuhng and took scores of youngsters into custody. A police spokesperson said the policemen had had to jump in the canal themselves and drag the boys out. Later, Operations DIG Haider Ashraf said bathing in the canal had been banned to save lives. He urged policemen to continue a strict crackdown in this regard.

Most of the main roads in the city appeared deserted during the day as most people preferred to stay indoors. Several people complaining of sun-stroke and dehydration were brought to hospitals in the city.

According to the Meteorological Department, the heat wave is expected to continue on Monday as well. The weather remained hot and dry in the rest of the Punjab on Saturday and Sunday.

Met officials said in the next few days, scattered thundershowers and high winds were expected in Gujranwala and Lahore divisions.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2015.