PESHAWAR, June 9: The provincial metropolis and other cities in the province seemed deserted on Saturday, with most people staying indoors, as the mercury touched the 45 degree Celsius mark.

According to the Met office, the hot and dry spell which has been gripping the province for the last three days will continue for at least a week.

All streets and roads in Peshawar gave a deserted look during the day. The traffic also remained thin.

Recurring power breakdowns in different localities of the city served to heighten the people’s woes.

The sale of cold drinks and juices went up as the people thronged to juice corners and makeshift stalls.

In other parts of the province, hot winds blew throughout the day, forcing the people to remain indoors. However, long and frequent power outages continued to add to the difficulties the people faced.

The southern districts of the province remained in the grip of the unprecedented heatwave, bringing routine life activities to a grinding halt. Traffic on inter-district routes was also thin.