Pakistan heatwave kills more than 600 over three days

The death toll in Pakistan's southern Sindh province, which has been struck by a heatwave, has reached 622, a senior health official has said.

Senior provincial health official Saeed Mangnejo said on Tuesday that he expects the number of fatalities to climb further.

Mr Mangnejo says the death toll is for the past three days, though most of the deaths were reported in the province’s largest city, Karachi.

The heatwave coincides with major power cuts, leading to harsh criticism of the provincial government and K-electric , the company that supplies electricity to Karachi, the country’s richest city and home to 20 million people.

One of Karachi’s biggest public hospitals said all its beds were full, with more than 200 people dying there of dehydration or heat exhaustion.

"Some were brought in dead, while others died during treatment," said Dr Seemin Jamali, joint director at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

Civil Hospital was also full of heatstroke patients.

Unconscious policeman

A few old fans blew sweltering air past stray cats sprawled in the dark corridors as friends of an unconscious policeman rushed outside to buy him the cold water the hospital could not provide.

"This is how it is. No one cares for common poor man here," Khadim Ali complained as he fanned his cousin, Shahad Ali, a 40-year-old vegetable vendor who collapsed in the heat.

Temperatures have touched 44 degrees in the steamy port city in recent days, up from a normal summer temperature of 37 degrees. But rain is due.

“A sea breeze will set in some time tonight. The temperature will come down as the monsoon rain enters the Sindh coast, bringing rain to the city,” said Ghulam Rasool, director general of the Meteorological Department.

A morgue run by the charity Edhi Foundation had received more than 400 people who died of complications from the heat, official Anwar Kazmi told Reuters.

A full tally of deaths in the province was not available.

Medical camps

The paramilitary Rangers force has set up medical camps at several points in the city where they are providing water and anti-dehydration salts.

The provincial government is increasingly being criticised by opposition parties for not managing the crisis, which has been exacerbated by severe power cuts.

One politician suggested the parliament should turn off its air-conditioning for an hour to show solidarity with the people.

The electricity grid has been overwhelmed as people switch on fans and air conditioners at the same time as families do their cooking, due to Ramadan.

The holy month of Ramadan, when most Muslims do not eat or drink during daylight hours, began on Friday. It is tradition for families to break their fast together. Reuters