Kochi:
A high-level central team arrived here today to visit drought affected areas in Kerala.
The team, in two batches, would commence their tour of the state from Monday till March 22 and hold discussions with state government officials, a government press release said.
The seven member team is headed by Narendra Bhushan, Joint Secretary, Union Agricultural Ministry.
While one group would visit districts from Ernakulam to Thiruvananthapuram, the other would go to the Northern districts from Palakkad.
The two teams would meet Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in the state capital on March 21, the release said.
According to the government, the state has suffered a loss of Rs 7,888 crore with three lakh hectares of agricultural land and 15,000 farmers being hit by the severe drought.