Rawalpindi and Islamabad recorded 41°C on Sunday as hot, dry weather persisted and relief remained unlikely over the next two days. The heatwave has also intensified water shortages in several city and cantonment areas.

RAWALPINDI: Intense heat and humidity gripped Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Sunday, keeping many residents indoors and aggravating water shortages in a number of localities across the twin cities.

The Met Office recorded a maximum temperature of 41 degrees Celsius in both cities. Weather experts said there was unlikely to be any relief from the hot and dry conditions over the next two days. A Met Office official said temperatures were expected to remain between 40 and 41 degrees Celsius, adding that such weather was not unusual for this time of year.

High temperatures over recent days have made it difficult for residents to go outside, particularly in the afternoon. Many young people headed to Rawal, Khanpur and Simli dams, Chattar Park and nearby water reservoirs for swimming, while swimming pools in the twin cities also saw a rush of visitors seeking respite from the heat.

The prolonged heatwave also led to dozens of people being taken to hospitals after fainting. At the same time, complaints of low water pressure and dry supply lines have increased in several areas of Rawalpindi city and the cantonment.

Residents report supply disruptions

Residents in Chaklala, Faisal Colony, Shah Khalid Colony, Gulzar-i-Quaid, Morgah, Dhoke Chaudhrian, Arya Mohallah, Sadiqabad, Ratta, Misrial Road, Afshan Colony, Tench Bhatta, Gawalmandi and Naseerabad said they had been facing water shortages for the last few days. They said repeated complaints to the Water and Sanitation Agency and the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board had produced no improvement.

Riasat Ali, a resident of Faisal Colony, said his area had been dealing with a water shortage for the past two weeks. He said Wasa had not supplied water to the locality but was still collecting monthly water charges. He added that despite repeated complaints, supply had not been restored and residents were buying water from private tankers for Rs4,000.

Abdul Qadir, a resident of Tench Bhatta, said the lack of water was disrupting routine household work. He said residents were relying on private tankers to cover the shortfall, while cantonment authorities were providing water for only 15 minutes despite the harsh weather. He added that if the shortage had already emerged at the start of summer, conditions in mid-June could become even more difficult.

RCB cites demand-supply gap

Officials of the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board said water use rises during summer, creating a gap between demand and available supply. They said the cantonment was receiving only nine million gallons of water daily from Khanpur Dam, which was not enough to meet increasing needs. The officials added that the board was making efforts to ensure clean drinking water reached all cantonment areas.