Heat wave claims 26 lives in Pakistan

PAKISTAN: A scorching heat wave in Pakistan has killed 26 people in central Punjab province, where the temperature has soared to 48 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit), a health ministry official said Sunday.

"At least 26 people have died in Punjab over the past two days," the official said, requesting anonymity.

Six died in the provincial capital Lahore alone, where the mercury hit 48C, he said, adding that dozens of others were admitted to hospital after fainting due to heatstroke. Meanwhile nineteen deaths due to a severe heat wave were reported from northern and central India Sunday, taking the toll to 37 in two days, the Press Trust of India reported.

The northern state of Uttar Pradesh one of India's most impoverished was the worst hit with nine deaths, even though the mercury went down a few notches since Saturday to 38.4 degrees Celsius (101.12 degrees Fahrenheit).

Lahore, New Delhi, Monday, AFP