SUKKUR, May 22 Searing heat at 49 degrees Celsius claimed lives of two elderly cousins in Kandhra, 15 kilometers from here on Saturday.

Immediately after returning from market Mohammad Qabool Shaikh, 80, and his cousin Ghulam Bashir Shaikh, 60, complained of congestion in chest and suffocation before they fell unconscious, according to relatives.

They sent for a doctor who declared them dead after examining them. The doctor said both the men had suffered severe heatstroke, which proved fatal.

Temperature in Sukkur and its adjoining areas is on a constant rise and mercury was touching 49 degrees Celsius on Saturday.

According to relatives, there was power shutdown when the elderly men returned home and found no respite from the searing heat.

Our Larkana correspondent adds The city experienced the hottest day so far of summer on Saturday when mercury touched 51.3 degrees Celsius forcing people to remain indoors throughout the day.

Officials at the local met office said that four years ago the temperature had risen to 52 degrees Celsius and forecast further jump in mercury on Sunday.

With temperature at 51.3 degrees Celsius, prolonged and unannounced electricity loadshedding has compounded peoples' woes.