LAHORE Plains of the Punjab including the City remained in the grip of severe heat wave on Saturday with experts predicting the same weather conditions during the next couple of days. The mercury is continuously rising in the plains of Punjab including the City due to persistent dry weather and abundance of sunshine. On Saturday, maximum and minimum temperature in the City was recorded 45 degree Celsius and 28 C respectively. Relative humidity in the evening was recorded 21 percent. Lahore canal as usual attracted a large number of people including women and children. Not only youths but also elderly people were seen beating the heat by taking a dip in the mud colour canal water. At certain places, even women were seen taking a bath in the canal water. Local meteorological department has forecast mainly hot and dry weather for most parts of the country while plains of Punjab including the City are likely to remain in the grip of severe heat wave during the next 24 hours.