Kochi, Monday 10 January 2010: A Central team would visit Kerala today for assessing the damage inflicted to agriculture crop and property caused by the monsoon rains. The Central team headed by N S Kalsi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs would visit the rain hit areas in the State, till Thursday.

Torrential rain had inflicted heavy damage to crops and property in different parts of the State. Floodwaters damaged many roads disrupting vehicular traffic in many parts of the State. Relief camps were opened in all parts of the State to accommodate the people who had suffered colossal damage to their property and agriculture.

State Revenue Minister KP Rajendran informed that the State Cabinet had already sanctioned Rs.10 crore to take up rehabilitation work in the rain-affected areas. But this would hardly be sufficient for the purpose given that the rain had damaged around 940 km of village roads and caused extensive damage to property and crops.

According to district authorities, the initial loss to crop and property has been put at Rs.11.40 lakh, mainly in the Meenachil taluk in Kottayam. This includes crop loss in more than 140 hectares of land, to over 410 farmers.