Couple dies in Shangla fire as Punjab on heatwave alert
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab has issued a province-wide high alert in anticipation of a sharp rise in temperatures and a possible heatwave expected to grip cities and plains from May 15 to 19.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday, PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Khan has directed all commissioners and deputy commissioners across Punjab to remain vigilant.
He instructed that all concerned departments, including district administrations, be placed on high alert to mitigate the potential impact of extreme weather.
A PDMA spokesperson stated that an unusual temperature rise is forecast over the coming days, with temperatures expected to remain 4 to 7 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average until May 20.
The advisory further noted the possibility of a shift in weather patterns toward the end of the forecast period. Westerly winds are expected to enter Punjab from the evening of May 19, potentially bringing rainfall to most districts between May 19 and 20.
The PDMA's alert emphasises the need for preventive measures by both the public and authorities to minimise risks associated with the heatwave.
Citizens have been advised to stay hydrated, limit exposure to direct sunlight and adopt necessary precautions against heatstroke and other heat-related illnesses.
In anticipation of emergencies, district administrations have been instructed to ensure adequate preparedness to respond swiftly to any developments during the high-temperature spell.
Couple dies in wildfire
As mercury soars and forests become more vulnerable to fires, a couple was burnt to death late Tuesday night as raging wildfires engulfed the forests of Hasham Khel Dab mountains in Martung tehsil of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Shangla district, according to police.
Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Usman Munir said the victims, a man and his wife, were trying to save the firewood stacked near their home when the flames reached their vicinity. In the process, they were trapped and fatally burned.
According to Sub-divisional Forest Officer (SDFO) Zahid Hussain of the forest department in Alpuri, the fire originated from bushes set ablaze by the couple themselves near their residence.
However, the fire spiralled out of control due to intense and gusty winds, eventually spreading to the surrounding forest and turning into a full-scale wildfire.
The deceased were identified as Hakim Zada and his wife, Hajiroon. According to officials, the blaze has since been completely extinguished, and the bodies of the victims have been recovered from the site.
Officials confirmed that compensation would be provided to the next of kin of the deceased couple.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a heatwave advisory for the province, forecasting a significant rise in temperatures across the province from May 15 to 19.
According to the advisory, daytime temperatures are expected to remain 5 to 7°C above the seasonal average due to persistent hot and dry weather.
A western weather system is anticipated to enter upper parts of the province between May 19 and 20, possibly bringing rainfall and hailstorms. (With input from our correspondents in Shangla and Peshawar)
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