Eighteen Pakistanis die in shrine festival

KARACHI, Sep 17 (Reuters) Eighteen Pakistan pilgrims died during a three-day festival at a Muslim shrine, some by heat stroke and others by drowning in a river, a police official said today.

Thousands of devotees attended the annual celebrations of Muslim saint Lal Shahbaz Qalender in Sehwan Sharif, some 350 km from the port city of Karachi.

Twelve people, mostly old men and women died of heat, while six young devotees drowned while swimming in a river near the shrine.

Last year more than 30 pilgrims had been killed in similar circumstances.

REUTERS MQA RK1652