Heatwave claims 40 more lives in Pakistan

Islamabad_(dpa) _ A relentless heatwave in Pakistan has claimed at least 40 more lives, raising the death toll to 232, news reports said Wednesday.

At least 11 people died in blistering heat in Lahore, capital city of central province of Punjab, on Tuesday where a windstorm and drizzle in the evening brought some relief to the people, the English-language daily The News reported.

Temperatures soared to 46 degrees Celsius in southern parts of the province, killing 15 people in the city of Multan. Fourteen more died in other parts of the country.

Repeated power cuts, which also resulted in water shortages, added to the miseries of the people in several cities, prompting protests against the government and the electricity suppliers.

Enraged crowds blocked roads by burning tires in several districts of the port city of Karachi and scuffled briefly with police. At least two vehicles were also set on fire.

Hundreds of tribesmen blocked the road between Pakistan and Afghanistan near the border in the North-West Frontier Province to vent anger against the prolonged power outages.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has predicted a mild break in the sweltering heat in a couple of days. There are chances of a windstorm and light rain in Islamabad on Wednesday evening. dpa ns yam jh