At least 21 people including seven women have died and more than 100 mostly students fainted of heat-stroke in only southern Punjab during the last 24 hours as the temperature rose to 49 degree Celsius in Dera Ghazi Khan and adjacent areas.
Now death toll rose to 117. According to reports collected from different hospitals, five people including three women, Sakina, Fatima and Zainab died of heat-stroke when they were engaged in wheat harvesting, Kaka-Naji (60) died in Chak No 46 and Hazir Khan in Moza Ratti Tibbi in Sahiwal district, three people died in Mian Chunnu sub division, Kausar Bibi and Faqir Muhammad Akbar alias Badshah in Chak No 109/15-L and Bab Laldin in Chak No 137/15-L, two people Ghulam Yasin, a kiln worker and Naseer Ahmed died in Shehr Sultan, a lady health visitor Farhat Ramzan died in Union Council No 84 Rahimyar Khan, one each in Kherpur Tamewali (Khan Mai), Lal Suhanra (Allah Ditta), Lal Muhammad (Kopt Azam), Lodhran, (Shahid Ikram), Kallar Wali (Moulvi Muhammad Naseer) Faiz Bakhsh Shepherd (Yazman), Wazir Begum (Pakpattan), two unidentified people in Sakhi Sarwar and Kassowal
"We have received reports of 21 casualties in southern Punjab during last 24 hours and number of casualties are increasing as the mercury shot up to 49 degree Celsius at different places," Professor Dr Laiq Hussain Siddiqui Principal of Nishtar Medical College said on Monday.
Medical experts have asked people to adopt necessary preventive measures against heat-stroke. "Heat-stroke can cause death if necessary preventive measures are not adopted," Nishtar Medical College Multan's Principal Professor Dr Laiq Hussain Siddiqui said.