Heatwave in Punjab; 33 die in Multan
Pakistan Times National News Desk

MULTAN: At least 33 people have died as a searing heatwave brought temperatures of nearly 47 degrees Celsius (116 Fahrenheit) in central district of Punjab, officials said Monday.

"We have received reports here that 31 people have died in the heatwave during last three days," Amir Salman, a spokesman for Punjab's health department, said.

Health officials from a number of dustbowl districts in the south of the province gave a toll of 33. They said 17 died at the weekend and another 16 in the past 24 hours.

"We are receiving a number of heat-stricken people daily in the emergency ward," said Laiq Hussain Siddiqui, a doctor at Multan's Nishtar Hospital.

Temperatures hit 46.8 degrees in the Bahawalnagar and Dera Ghazi Khan districts of Punjab and more hot and dry weather is forecast for the next two or three days, the Meteorological Department said.

Last year a heatwave killed some 200 people in Pakistan.●