Heat wave kills 17 pilgrims at Pakistan shrine

5 Dariya News

Islamabad 07-Jun-2015

At least 17 devotees have died due to the heat stroke over the past two days at the 763rd Urs of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar at Sehwan town in Sindh province on Sunday.Ten people died on Saturday as the small town in Jamshoro district of Sindh baked in 44 degree Celsius. However, despite scorching heat, devotees continued to throng Sehwan to pay homage to the Sufi saint on Sunday on the second day of the Urs, Geo TV reported.According to the latest reports from organisers, seven more people lost their lives as the mercury rose to 44 degrees Celsius in Sehwan town.The latest deaths have pushed the toll up to 17.Every year, more than half a million pilgrims from across Pakistan, especially from Sindh and Punjab, visit the shrine. Most of the people present garlands and a green chadar (shawl) with Quranic inscriptions in silver or gold threads at the saint's shrine.