Team from Centre to assess cyclone damage

PUDUCHERRY: An Inter-Ministerial Central team (IMCT) lead by  Lokesh Jha, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, has been constituted for on-the-spot assessment of the situation in the wake of cyclone Thane in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu.According to a release from the government, the team will visit the affected areas of Puducherry and Tamil Nadu from Saturday.The IMCT consists of representatives of the Ministries/ Departments of Agriculture, Drinking Water, Finance, Health, Power, Road Transport & Highways, Rural Development, Water Resources, Planning Commission and the National Disaster Management Authority.Meanwhile, officials in the UT administration were going ahead with the work for finalising the damage assessment before the arrival of the Central team.It may be recalled that Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had visited Puducherry and Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, and he along with Union Minister of State for PMO met Prime Minister Manhmohan Singh and apprised him about the situation following the devastation caused by the cyclone.