Another 35 people including a bride, a police constable, a health worker, a rickshaw, an employee of Post Office, and a tailor master and five women died till Sunday in Southern Punjab during last 24 hours as temperature rose to 46 degree celsius in Multan, 47 in Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan. Now death toll rose to 138 during last seven days.
Undeclared loadshedding of electricity created a shortage of drinking water as well as ice in the cities and towns besides adding to the miseries of the people. Residents of Chichawatni, Kassowal, Hasilpur, Bahawalpur and Mian Chunnu staged a demonstration to protest againsst power shut down for six to eight hours in scorching heat. They chanted slogans against the Mepco authorities for their failure in smooth supply of electricity.
"Eight persons identified a vaccinator Muhammad Aslam, Khawaja Nazir Ahmed, Shaukat Ali (45) Rashid (17) Muhammad Salim, Allah Rakha, Akhtari Begum and Bilquees died in Multan during last 24 hours, while 300 people were taken to Nishtar emergency who were hit by heat," CMO Dr Muhammad Ali told this correspondent on Sunday.
A bride Nuzhat Bibi (20) died of heat strike during Walima in Kot addu town some 60 miles west of Multan on Saturday. A cop died in Karor Lal- Eisan (Leiah), a vaccinator Muhammad Aslam fainted when he was giving drops of polio vaccine to children. Later he died in hospital. A Post Office employee Masod (50) died.
Health authorities said "At least 35 persons (Eight in Multan, Five in Khushab, three each in Arifwala, Kotadu, Sargodha, two each in Sahiwal, Chishtian, Chichwatni and Mian Chunnu, one each in Zahir Pir, Karor Lal-Eisan, Ahmedpur Siyal, Chachran Sharif, Jangal Miryala have died during last 24 hours while more than 400 people fainted. However they were recovered.
Met office forecast dry and hot weather during next 24 hours and said that there was no expectation of rain till June 30. Electricity break down added to the miseries of the people. All the roads, shopping centres, Bazars look deserted after 0900 am to 0600 pm. Doctors have advised the people not to expose to sun without covering their heads with cloth and use maximum water with salt and not use cut-fruits.
Health authorities said," we have received reports from almost all the hospitals, rural health centres and basic health units that a large number of people are fainting daily due to severe heat. Total seventeen people including a woman have died.
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