Heat Wave knocking Karachi's door from today
- By Web Desk -
- Apr 30, 2019
KARACHI: Pakistan Meteorological Department on Tuesday predicted that Karachi will face the brunt of hot weather from today as the maximum temperature in the city will remain between 39–41 Celsius, ARY News reported.
The met office had earlier cautioned that a heat wave will grip the city from May 1st–3rd.
Heat Wave Early Warning Centre of the PMD had informed the city authorities and the public that during the three days’ span maximum temperature in day would range between 40-42 Celsius.
The low pressure in the Arabian Sea hampers routine sea breeze to the city during the heat wave and hot and dry winds could blow from north and northwest, the heat wave warning centre said.
The weather department has advised the citizens, civic authorities and all stakeholders to take precautionary measures.
The government of Sindh has announced measures to address the extreme weather condition including setting up heatstroke centres in the city at 115 points.
The health department has declared heat wave alert at 13 hospitals in Karachi and also cancelled leaves of the health staff.
Moreover, the water Sabeels being arranged at 185 points, while mobile relief teams will also present at 24 points in city to meet any emergency situation.
The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation has issued a health advisory recently for safety of general public.
The health advisory issued by KMC’s Senior Director for Health Services Dr Birbal Genani asked people to drink more water in the current weather.
“Cover your head. Do not unnecessarily go out of your house between 11:00am and 3:00pm. Wear light dress,” said the health advisory.
In May last year, the spell of heatwave had left residents of Karachi utterly drained as the mercury touched 44 degree Celsius on the scale.
Heat Wave 2015
A severe heat wave with temperatures as high as 49 °C struck Pakistan’s southern parts in June 2015. It caused the deaths of about 2,000 people from dehydration and heat stroke, mostly in Sindh province and its capital city, Karachi. The heat wave also claimed the lives of zoo animals and countless agricultural livestock.