Over 1,200 people have died in Pakistan's Sindh province, Karachi, due to a heat wave described as the worst in decades. Major hospitals in the country's largest city are struggling to cope with the unprecedented influx of patients seeking treatment for heat stroke related illness.

A state of emergency is in force in all the hospitals, which are struggling to cope with a sudden influx of patients affected by heat stroke, exhaustion and low blood pressure. The provincial government has cancelled leave for doctors and other staff and is increasing stocks of medical supplies.

Temperatures of 44-45 degrees Celsius have been recorded in Karachi since Friday. The weather outlook for Sindh remains hot and humid, while rain is expected in parts of the province and in isolated areas in Sukkur, Larkana, Hyderabad and Karachi. Temperatures came down to 34 degrees Celsius on Wednesday as a relatively cool sea breeze started blowing. The Pakistan Army and paramilitary Rangers have also set up special centres for treatment of heatstroke victims and are supplying medicines to government-run hospitals.

Men and children cool off during intense hot weather at China Creek in Karachi | Source: Reuters