Hottest day so far: Heat wave claims five lives as Pakistan swelters

Mercury rages to 49 degrees Celsius in Sibbi and Larkana, 44.8 in Karachi with load-shedding multiplying misery

QUETTA/ KARACHI: At least five people died owing to sweltering temperatures on what was perhaps the hottest day of the year so far for Pakistan with the mercury rising to as high as 49 degrees Celsius on Saturday.

In Sibbi, where the temperature rose to 49 degrees Celsius, Bhawal Khan died while five others fell unconscious owing to the heat.

The heat wave also claimed the lives of four children in Tharparkar, a local health official confirmed. District Larkana too saw the temperature soar to 49 degrees Celsius.

According to the meteorological office of the province, the heat wave saw the mercury rise to 44 degrees Celsius in Dalbandin and Nokundi, 46 in Lasbella, 45 in Turbat, 40 in Panjgur, 40 in Pasni and 39 degrees Celsius in Quetta.

Read: Weather weary: Two killed in rain incidents

Weather in other provinces followed suit with 48 degrees Celsius in Sukkur, 44.8 in Karachi, 47 in Bhakkar, Kot Addu and Lasbella, 46 in Rahimyar Khan and Bahawalpur, 40 in Peshawar, 44 in Multan, 43 in Hyderabad and 41 degrees Celsius in Faisalabad, reported Pakistan Meteorological Department.

On the other hand, rains offered much needed respite in Swabi and Haripur where heavy showers amid strong winds provided welcome relief, while Dera Ismael Khan witnessed some drizzle and moderate winds.

Moreover, reports suggested Upper Punjab, Lower Sindh, Kashmir, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Peshawar, Kohat, Mardan, Bannu would receive pre-monsoon rains amid lightning and winds during the next week or so.

Temperatures and humidity in last 24 hours

Cities	Min-Temp (Today)	Max-Temp (Today)	R-H (Evening)	Precipitation mm (last 24 hrs)
Abbottabad	20	33	34	NIL
Badin	30	41	42	NIL
Bahawalpur	33	45	37	NIL
Bannu	26	45	63	01
Chitral	22	33	26	NIL
Dera Ghazi Khan	30	45	35	NIL
Dera Ismail Khan	28	45	43	NIL
Faisalabad	31	41	38	NIL
Gawadar	27	39	61	NIL
Gilgit	15	32	30	Trace
Gujranwala	27	38	53	NIL
Hunza	16	28	28	Trace
Hyderabad	29	43	32	NIL
Islamabad	27	39	45	NIL
Jacobabad	31	48	22	NIL
Jhelum	31	40	39	NIL
Kalat	08	31	22	NIL
Karachi	32	45	45	NIL
Khuzdar	27	40	09	NIL
Kohat	30	42	63	Trace
Lahore	29	39	47	NIL
Larkana	30	48	24	NIL
M.B.Din	29	40	50	NIL
Multan	32	44	23	NIL
Murree	18	27	57	NIL
Muzaffarabad	23	36	35	NIL
Parachinar	25	36	69	NIL
Peshawar	29	40	45	NIL
Quetta	25	39	24	NIL
Rawalpindi	29	40	45	NIL
Sahiwal	31	42	41	NIL
Sargodha	29	42	38	NIL
Shaheed Benazirabad	28	45	32	NIL
Sialkot	27	37	42	NIL
Sibbi	26	49	29	NIL
Sukkur	31	48	28	NIL
Turbat	30	45	28	NIL
Zhob	21	40	24	NIL