KARACHI: Although the searing heat of last week has passed, high temperatures claimed another 20 lives in the city today.

According to Sindh health department statistics, since June 20, a total of 1,206 have died in Karachi alone due to the heat wave.

Commenting on the situation, Provincial Minister for Health Jam Mahtab claimed some deaths could be prevented if loadshedding comes to an end. He added that 35 per cent of those who had died were women.

Representatives of the Edhi Foundation had earlier said they were continuously receiving bodies, though numbers had considerably decreased on Saturday. Around 160 unclaimed bodies were buried by the Edhi Foundation the same day.

Doctors at Civil Hospital Karachi said a majority of the dead appeared to hail from lower economic groups, including many of the homeless and drug addicts.