RAWALPINDI, May 30: Wednesday proved to be the first hot day of the summer as twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad sizzled at 42 degrees Celsius with Met Office forecasting next two to three days as much dry and hot.

The scorching heat coupled with prolonged power cuts and scarce supply of drinking water made the lives of the residents miserable while commercial markets were presenting a deserted look as the harsh weather kept the visitors confined to the homes.

The heat wave affected the residents more in Rawalpindi because it is more populous and congested. Many localities had to brave short supply of water as the tube wells remained dysfunctional in the absence of electricity for 12 to 14 hours.

“Most of the tube wells remained switched off on Wednesday due to load shedding and we received 500 complaints from consumers demanding water tankers. We have already requested the Punjab government to provide us generators so that we could keep the tube wellsrunning during power cuts,” Akram Soban, Director Water Supply of Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) said.

“Absence of electricity means absence of water and if the power cuts get prolonged, people demand water tankers,” he said.

The people particularly the women were seen going out with umbrellas to avoid the blazing heat while the bus stands were packed with people waiting for public transport. “It is really hot today and I cannot bear it anymore,” Sadia Norin, a woman waiting for a bus told this reporter in Aabpara.

According to Met Office, hot and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country including Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

It predicts sever heat wave conditions to prevail over south Punjab, upper Sindh and southern/eastern parts of Balochistan for next two to three days and during the period, temperature may rise to 48-50 degree Celsius.