Ranchi, Sept. 20: A team from Delhi which arrived here to review the dry spell in Jharkhand today put its seal on a “drought-like situation” in the state after they surveyed “certain selected paddy fields” in five districts where the condition of the crop was poor.

After their visit to some drought-affected villages, the five-member team headed by central animal husbandary department joint secretary Neeta Chaudhary reviewed the situation and discussed their findings with top bureaucrats, including chief secretary G. Krishan, here today.

The team, however, chose not to comment on whether they would recommend the state government’s plea for a special grant of Rs 1,400 crore for meeting the socio-economic challenges created by delayed monsoon.

They were, however, convinced that the situation in some districts was “alarming” which called for an immediate action with respect to providing alternate source of irrigation to the region.

“We found that some villagers have no access to potable water,” a team member said.