The team deputed by the Centre to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Gaja will visit affected places in Karaikal on Monday, Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy said on Saturday.
Talking to reporters at his residence, the Chief Minister said the team would tour the affected places and hold discussions with officials.
The team is likely to call on the Chief Minister on Tuesday. Mr. Narayanasamy said he had met Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and sought an assistance of ₹187 crore towards cyclone relief.
An interim report on the extent of damage to infrastructure and boats was submitted to the Central government, he said.
The Chief Minister said Mr. Jaitley had asked him to meet the initial expenditure from the disaster fund available with the territorial administration. Requesting the Bharatiya Janata Party to withdraw the bandh declared on Monday as a mark of protest against Kerala government on Sabarimala issue, he said said the bandh call was unnecessary.
The Supreme Court had given a judgment allowing women to enter the hill shrine. The order had to be respected but at the same time the traditional rituals followed in the temple had to be also respected, he said.
Mr. Narayanasamy said his government did not want to get involved in the issue. The BJP was trying to politicise the issue, he charged.
Stalin meets CM
The president of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam M. K Stalin and former Union Minister P. Chidambaram were among those who called on Mr. Narayanasamy to condole the death of his mother.
Tamil Maanila Congress leader G. K Vasan and MDMK leader Vaiko also called on the Chief Minister to express condolence.