Pakistan suffered a fierce heat of 51 degrees Celsius

“In the past, the city had a lot of trees and there was no shortage of water, we could easily beat the heat. But now without trees, the water has run out, so the heat is becoming more and more unbearable” – Muhammad Akbar, 40, who sells dried chickpeas in Jacobabad, told The Guardian.

The fierce heat weighed heavily on those who had to work outdoors. Like many neighbours, Mr. Akbar has to leave home early in the morning and work 12-14 hours non-stop to earn around 500 rupees a day.

Mashooq Ali, president of a rice mill’s union, said most workers at his factory get a two-hour break in the afternoon, then resume work. “When it’s too hot, we often sit under the tub and use ice. In the evening, we come home very tired, want to rest, but because it’s too hot, we don’t get enough sleep.”

The people of Jacobabad cool off through a limited supply of drinking water (blue can) and domestic water. (Photo taken in 2021). Photo: TELEGRAPH

Doctor Irshad Sarki, Jacobabad MS Hospital, said that in the past there were about 4-5 patients with heat stroke admitted to the hospital daily. Ammad Ulah, another hospital doctor, estimates that the number of heat stroke patients in this hot season is now up to 50-60 people / day and makes the hospital overwhelmed.

Follow The Guardian, residents of Jacobabad still have to fight the heat mainly with hand fans and regular bathing. Four free cold water stations in the city are attracting large crowds while those with more conditions temporarily go elsewhere to escape the heat.

Normally, the summer heat in Pakistan and India starts from the last week of May but this year is the first time people have started to suffer since March and is expected to last until August.

According to ecologist Nasir Ali Panhwar, Jacobabad is particularly affected by global warming. Part of that is because the city is located where the winter sun shines directly and is hotter. Not to mention, the trees that once provided shade to the city and surrounding fields have been wiped out by the process of urbanization.

Pakistan Meteorological Department chief meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz said the temperature reached 49 degrees Celsius in April, a new record. If the heat comes so early, it’s a serious problem.