Centre's flood damage assessment team meets Jayalalithaa

An eight-member central government team to assess the extent of flood damage in Tamil Nadu met Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa here on Tuesday.

In a statement here, the government said the central team will tour the flood affected areas on Tuesday and Wednesday and make their assessment.

Jayalalithaa told the central team that the requirement of funds for relief and restoration of infrastructure are well beyond the resources available with the State.

"I therefore request the central team to make an in-depth assessment of the damages suffered by the state and to submit its report to the Ministry of Home Affairs expeditiously," she told the central team.

The state government had asked a total sum of Rs.25,912.45 crore towards flood relief and restoration works.

Heavy rains -- the worst in a century -- battered Chennai and adjoining Kanchipuram, Cuddalore and Thiruvallur districts in October-December 2015, resulting in unprecedented floods. A total of 421 people lost their lives in incidents caused by the rains.