DADU, May 19: A continuing heatwave killed three persons in Dadu district on Sunday when the mercury shot up to 51 degrees Celsius turning the area the hottest place in the country.

Reports from different areas of Dadu said that over a dozen people fell unconscious and three of them died after sustaining heat stroke.

Two of the deceased were identified as 70-year-old Ghulam Qadir and 55-year-old Aslam Pathan, whose deaths were reported from Dadu and Johi towns. Mr Pathan was a resident of Tando Rahim and was waiting for a bus at Johi bus stand to reach his hometown when he fell unconscious due to scorching heat. Mr Qadir was also looking for a coach to reach his destination when he suffered a heat stroke.

A 60-year-old man fell unconscious due to intense heat in a locality of Sehwan town and was taken to a hospital but he could not survive. He was stated to be a beggar and could not be identified till late in the evening.

A large number of patients were brought to different healthcare facilities for treatment of heatstroke in Dadu district on Saturday and Sunday. Most of the cases were reported from Dadu town, Khairpur Nathan Shah and Mehar where men, women and people were admitted for treatment.

Ice was in great demand across the district and there were reports of a quadruple increase in the rate.