The Centre on Sunday announced formation of a 10-member team each for three tsunami-affected states under the chairmanship of the secretary (disaster management), A K Rastogi, who would assess the damage caused by the tsunamis and the assistance required for re-construction.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of National Crisis Mangement Group, chaired by Cabinet Secretary B K Chaturvedi here on Sunday afternoon, official sources said in New Delhi.

Each team would be headed by a joint secretary of the home ministry and would comprise members from the finance, animal husbandary, surface transport, agriculture, women and child development, education, rural development and water resources ministries, the sources said.

Also Read UN launches appeal for funds Centre plans integrated relief command India sends field hospitals to Lanka Battering of Kanyakumari See how a little training helps

The teams would embark on a three-day visit to Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala [Images] from January four and would assess the damage in these states besides working on the funds required for rehabilitation, the sources said.

All the three teams would be headed by Rastogi who would submit a report to the government about the extent of damage in the three states, they said.

Others present at the meeting included Home Secretary Dhirendra Singh, Defence Secretary Ajay Vikram Singh and other senior officials from various ministries.