The city police sprung into action and baton-charged citizens for violating ban on swimming in the BRB canal, as a good number of people thronged the canal to get respite from the scorching heat as the mercury shot up to 44 degree Celsius in the provincial capital on Tuesday.
Despite the threat of sharp spread of Covid-19 in case of close interaction with the people and the ban on swimming in the BRB canal, and eight other points in Lahore, many youngsters were seen swimming in the BRB canal which left police with no other option but to pull them out forcefully with baton charging.
When this scribe was passing through the Muslim Town Bridge to reach the Canal Bank Road, it was witnessed that majority of the people - some who were swimming and some others standing on the footpath - were not wearing the face masks. Some policemen were seen pulling out the people from the canal and baton charging them while some others were seen chasing the teenagers.
On the other hand, the Pakistan Metrological Department has forecast hot weather for the next 72 hours in Punjab.
Hassan Ali, the resident of Ichra, said he came to the canal bank to get some respite from the heat. "After remaining at my home during the whole Ramzan, I now needed some relief or recreational activity because I was psychologically getting upset," said Hassan, resident of Ichra, while speaking to this scribe.
He said that swimming is the best ever option to get some relief in hot weather, but as the swimming pools have been closed due to the Covid-19 "We have nowhere to go but to rush to the BRB canal". "The time of death is fixed. If it is written this way, nothing can ever stop it," the youngster reasoned.