Extreme weather claims 12 lives in southern Punjab

MULTAN: A spell of scorching heat continued to hit Multan for the second consecutive day as the mercury jumped to 43 degree Celsius on Monday with 12 deaths reported in the southern Punjab during the last 24 hours, health officials said.
A health official, Shahid Magsi, said two people each had died of heatstroke in Jatoi, Bhalwal and Dera Ghazi Khan, while one each in Mehmoodkot, Jampur, Rojhan, Liaquatpur and Daira Din Panah.
Dr Wasim Javed, chief medical officer at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital emergency, said more than 250 patients of gastroenteritis, dehydration and other heat-related diseases were treated during the last four days. One of them had died.
More than 150 patients are still being treated in the hospital. Most of the patients are elderly and poor.Meanwhile, several areas of Balochistan are also facing very hot weather as the Met Office said on Monday that the maximum temperature of 47 degree Celsius was in Turbat and Nokkundi, 45 degree Celsius in Sibi and 42 degree Celsius in Panjgur and Lasbella.But the story is different for AJK as the first torrential rain coupled with strong winds in certain parts of the region, including Mirpur, provided a respite from the scorching heat.