News Digest

Heat wave kills more than 180 in Pakistan as millions battle to stay cool

Nearly 200 people have died in a heatwave in southern Pakistan, officials said Monday, as the government called in the army to help tackle widespread heatstroke in the worst-hit city Karachi. The death toll in Karachi, the country’s largest city, where temperatures hit 45 degrees Celsius at the weekend, is at least 180 and a further 11 deaths were reported in southern parts of central Punjab province. The deaths come a month after neighbouring India suffered the second deadliest heatwave in its history, with more than 2,000 deaths.

Eleven people have so far died because of heat related diseases in South Punjab during last 48 hours.

A health official in the city of Multan

Doctor Sabir Memon, a senior health official with the government in southern Sindh province, said the death toll was 180 and warned it was likely to rise in the evening. An AFP tally based on information from five hospitals around Karachi suggested the toll there could be as high as 249. National Disaster Management (NDMA) spokesman Ahmed Kamal told AFP the government had asked the army and paramilitary Rangers to help relief efforts which will include setting up heatstroke treatment centres around the city.