More than 700 dead as Pakistan reels under blistering heatwave

More than 700 people have died in a severe three-day heat wave in Pakistan, officials have said, with medics battling to treat patients as a state of emergency was declared in hospitals. Karachi’s largest hospital, Post Graduate Medical College Hospital, has treated more than 3,000 patients, according to doctors. Hospitals have been swamped with people suffering from heatstroke and dehydration, while repeated power outages have left many without air conditioning or running water.

The blame game is going on but the government did not issue any early warnings to tell the people to take care and because of the power outages, the situation became worse.

Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder

The deaths came as the overwhelmingly Muslim country of around 200 million people observe the Islamic month of Ramadan, during which eating and drinking is forbidden from sunrise to sunset. The provincial government meanwhile announced a public holiday to encourage residents to stay inside, an official said.

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