LAHORE: The severe heatwave gripping the plains of the country, especially in Punjab and Sindh persisted on Saturday and the Met department sees no respite from it in the next three to four days.

Lahore’s maximum temperature dropped from Friday’s 45 degrees Celsius to 44 degrees Celsius. But, strong hot winds that continued to blow throughout the day enhanced the heat index much more than the actual temperature, forcing people, who had the option, to remain indoors.

Turbat and Sibbi were the hottest places in the country with 52 degrees Celsius maximum temperature. They were followed by Jacobabad 51, Larkana 50, Dadu, Sukkur, Moenjodaro 49, Noorpurthal, Rahim Yar Khan, Bhakkar, Kot Addu and Bahawalnagar 48 each.

The Met department said it would be extremely hot and dry in Lahore, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Sahiwal, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Peshawar, Bannu, Sukkur, Larkana, Dera Ismael Khan, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sibbi and Nasirabad in the next 24 hours.

However, rain-thunderstorm is expected at a few places in Kashmir and its adjoining hilly areas.