Bhubaneswar: An eight-member central team Tuesday began a two-day visit to southern Odisha to assess the damage caused by cyclone Arnab last week and subsequent floods, officials said.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg said the Inter-Ministerial Central Team, led by Ravi Shankar, Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), would assess the damage to key sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure, roads, power and water resources.
The team visited Gajapati district Tuesday and will go to Ganjam district Wednesday, she said.
The Centre deputed the team following a request from the Odisha government to assess the damage caused by floods triggered by Cyclone Arnab, which made landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast October 28.
The state government had reported extensive damage in Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal districts in southern Odisha.
The team members will conduct a detailed on-ground assessment of areas affected by the cyclone and subsequent flooding.
Ravi Shankar held preliminary discussions with state government officials Monday, following which the eight-member team left for Gajapati in separate groups.
The team will assess damage in different sectors, with officials from various ministries and departments participating in the exercise.
The team will also review the ground situation and assess the progress of ongoing rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations.
Meanwhile, the state government has already carried out a preliminary assessment of the damage.
Besides Shankar, the team comprises members representing the ministries of agriculture, finance, Jal Shakti, power, road transport and highways, and rural development, along with ISRO.
