New Delhi:
A high-level central team will visit Tamil Nadu to make a first-hand assessment of the damage caused by floods and rains on Thursday.
The team, to be led by Joint Secretary (Home Ministry) Prasad, will include officials of Agriculture and Power Ministries and Central Water Commission, which will assess the damage caused in the worst-hit areas of Chennai, Tiruvallore, Kancheepuram and Cuddalore districts and the union territory of Puducherry.
Sources said the team will be in Tamil Nadu for at least two days.
The toll in rain-related incidents since the onset of the north-east monsoon last month has left 122 people dead and severely disrupted normal life in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
A central team will also visit Andhra Pradesh as soon as its memorandum is received, the Finance Ministry said in a statement here.
"The Government of India is deputing a team of the central officials to Tamil Nadu on November 26, 2015 to make a first-hand assessment of the damage. A central team will also be sent to Andhra Pradesh as soon as its memorandum is received," the statement said.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had earlier sent a letter along with a detailed memorandum on the damages from recent floods.
The central government has so far released Rs 939 crore for Tamil Nadu while Rs 700 crore was released yesterday to Andhra Pradesh, in addition to Rs 330 crore given earlier.
"Further assistance, if any, beyond the SDRF (State Disaster Relief Fund) available to states will be decided by the central government after examining the assessment made by the central team," the Finance Ministry said.