Heat Wave Reaches 52 Celsius, Pakistanis Don’t Dare to Leave the House
The heat wave rose to above 52 degrees Celsius (125.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in southern Pakistan’s Sindh province. This is the highest figure in the summer and close to a record high in the country, reported Reuters. Over the past month, extreme temperatures across Asia have worsened likely as a result of human-caused climate change, an international team of scientists said. Source by https://orleanshouseofpizza.com/ .
In Mohenjo Daro, a city in Sindh famous for archaeological sites dating to the Indus Valley Civilization dating to 2500 BCE, temperatures rose as high as 52.2 C (126 F) over the past 24 hours, a Pakistan Meteorological Department official said , Shahid Abbas told Reuters. The readings were the highest for the summer so far, and close to the city and country’s record highs of 53.5 C (128.3 F) and 54 C (129.2 F).
Opinions of Local Residents Regarding the Current Phenomenon
Mohenjo Daro is a small city that experiences very hot summers and mild winters, and rainfall is low. Like most small towns, the market here is very limited and usually busy with people. Mohenjo Daro city market only has bakeries, tea shops, workshops, electronics repair shops and fruit and vegetable sellers. However, with the current heat wave, these shops are hardly visited by people.
“Customers are not coming to restaurants because of the very hot weather. I sit idle in this restaurant with tables and chairs and no customers,” said Wajid Ali, 32, a tea shop owner in the city.
“I shower several times a day which gives me some relief. There is also no electricity. The heat made us very uncomfortable.”
Near Ali’s shop there is an electronics repair shop owned by Abdul Khaliq, 30, who was sitting working with the shop window half closed to protect him from the sun. Khaliq also complained that the hot temperatures were affecting his business.
Local doctor Mushtaq Ahmed added that local residents have adapted to the extreme weather conditions and prefer to stay indoors or near water.
“Pakistan is the fifth most vulnerable country to the impacts of climate change. We have witnessed above normal rains, floods,” Rubina Khursheed Alam, the prime minister’s coordinator for climate, said at a press conference on Friday and added that the government was running an alert campaign due to the heat wave.
The highest temperature recorded in Pakistan occurred in 2017 when the temperature rose to 54 C (129.2 F) in the city of Turbat, located in the Southwestern province of Balochistan. This was the second hottest temperature in Asia and the fourth highest in the world, said Sardar Sarfaraz, Chief Meteorologist at the Pakistan Meteorological Department
