Severe heatwave hits Pakistan's Karachi, alert issued

IANS  |  Islamabad 

Meteorological Department (PMD) issued a fresh three-day heatwave alert for Pakistan's southern port city of starting from on Tuesday to Thursday, as the mercury is expected to hit a maximum temperature of 44 degrees Celsius, local Urdu TV channels reported on Tuesday.

The weather office said that a new heatwave of moderate to severe intensity would engulf and its suburbs for three days and day temperatures will remain 40 to 44 degrees Celsius. Sea breeze will remain cut-off, said the department, reported.

The city's administration has advised the citizens to stay indoors during the period and take extra precautionary measures for outdoor activities.

Local medics advised people to drink plenty of water, eat hydrating foods, avoid direct sunlight and wear light clothes to prevent themselves from the risk of heat stroke.

The heatwave in the city coincides with the long hours of load shedding and the month of Ramadan, when millions of Muslims in refrain from and drink from dawn till dusk.

Last week, a welfare organization, the Edhi Foundation, operating morgues and an ambulance service in the country, claimed that it had received over 65 bodies who had died of heat stroke. However, the provincial health authorities denied the claim.

A severe heatwave in 2015 killed at least 1,200 people, mostly elderly, sick and homeless mainly in province.

--IANS

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First Published: Wed, May 30 2018. 01:32 IST