Blankets Arrive for Indians Amid Heatwave
Updated 6:37 AM ET April 21, 2000

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - A huge consignment of woolen blankets has arrived in the Indian state of Orissa for victims of last year's devastating cyclone, but officials are puzzling over what to do with them in the middle of a heatwave. "We don't know what to do with it at the height of summer and a decision on this is pending," Press Trust of India (PTI) quoted Revenue Minister Biswa Bhushan Harichandan as saying. The United Nations said earlier that it had stepped up efforts to help people survive an expected heat wave in Orissa following the loss of tree cover during last October's cyclone, which left some 10,000 dead and millions homeless. It said temperatures in some parts of the state had already touched 43 Celsius (109.4 Fahrenheit) and humidity in coastal districts was as high as 92 percent. PTI said the government had cancelled orders for many blankets, but was debating what to do with a first consignment worth 60 million rupees ($1.37 million) which had already arrived.