Bhubaneswar, Jan. 1: The central team, which toured the state’s rain-hit districts during the last two days, today admitted that the crop loss in the affected areas had been extensive. The team led by joint secretary, ministry of agriculture Pankaj Kumar had a meeting with chief minister Naveen Patnaik at the state secretariat. Following the meeting Naveen expressed confidence about Centre releasing adequate assistance to the state to meet the loss caused by the rain.

A Congress delegation met the team members and submitted a memorandum citing instances of farmer suicides. They cited 17 cases of suicide in December alleging that the state was yet to take any step to provide relief.