LAHORE: The plains of the country including the city of Lahore remained in the grip of severe heat wave yesterday with experts predicting the harsh weather conditions to persist during the ongoing week.
Larkana remained the hottest place in the country where mercury rose as high as 52 degree Celsius. Maximum temperature in Dadu, Mohenjo Daro, Jacobabad, Pdidan, Sukkur and Sibbi was recorded at 51C, Rahim Yar Khan 50C, Rohri, Turbat, Hyderabad, Mithi, Khanpur and Bhakkar 49C, Noorpur Thal, Kot Addu, Bhawalnagar and Shaheed Benazirabad 48C.
In Lahore, the mercury rose as high as 46C, making Wednesday the hottest day of current summer till date.
The mercury is continuously rising in the plains due to persistent dryness, lack of winds and abundance of sunshine. The heat wave is likely to intensify as no significant rain giving system is approaching during the current week.
Medical experts have advised the citizens to take precautionary measures to save themselves from heat stroke and dehydration. They have urged the citizens to avoid direct exposure to sunlight, cover head while going out and enhance fruit and liquid intake. They advised extra care for children and elderly people.
Lahore canal as usual attracted a large number of people including women and children to beat the heat. Not only youths but also elderly people were seen taking a dip in the mud coloured canal water.
At certain places, even women were seen taking bath in the canal water.
According to the experts, low pressure area lies over North Balochistan and its adjoining areas. Continental air will prevail over most parts of the country during the current week.
Local meteorological department has forecast mainly hot and dry weather for most parts of the country and severe heat wave for plains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab including Lahore, Sibi and Makran divisions during the current week.
Temperatures in mountainous areas of Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir will also rise by 4-5C above average resulting in rapid melting of snow and glaciers.
