Rain havoc in Kerala: Central team to visit this week

  • 25/03/2008

  • Hindu

A Central team will visit Kerala later this week to make an on-the-spot assessment of the damage caused to standing crop by the rains that lashed the State over the past week, killing 14 people. This was disclosed here on Monday by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar to separate delegations from the State which met them to seek immediate relief. Most affected Briefing mediapersons after meeting Mr. Patil, Kerala's Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran said the State government had asked the team to visit Alappuzha, Thrissur, Pathanamthitta and Kottayam in particular as the crop damage was most extensive in these four districts. According to Mr. Rajendran, the State government's assessment of the damage is in the vicinity of Rs.150 crore and that is the quantum of Central assistance being sought.