Pakistan Heatwave Toll Climbs to 50
Pakistan Times National News Desk

LAHORE: Pakistan declared an emergency in state-run hospitals Monday as the death toll from a sizzling heatwave rose to over 50, officials said.

Temperatures have soared to more than 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) in some parts of central Punjab and southern Sindh provinces since Friday, the meteorological office said.

At least 21 people have died in Punjab province in the past 24 hours including three in the provincial capital Lahore, health ministry official Amir Ali said.

Five of them drowned when they jumped into rivers or canals to beat the heat. Officials had previously reported 26 deaths between Friday and Sunday.

The meteorological office says no respite is likely for several days.

A heat wave in Pakistan last year claimed more than 80 lives while around 200 died in 2005.●