A team of central government officials will reach Bengal on Thursday to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Amphan, sources at Nabanna said.

According to the primary itinerary, the team would visit the worst-affected blocks in North 24-Parganas and South 24-Parganas.

“The team is supposed to visit Patharpratima and Namkhana — two worst-affected blocks in South 24-Parganas. The officials would also visit Hingalganj and Basirhat in North 24-Parganas. The team does not have a plan to go to East Midnapore, another cyclone-affected district, so far,” an official at Nabanna said.

Sources said the state government had arranged for a helicopter for the officials so that they could cover maximum areas within a short period.

The team would first reach Patharpratima from Calcutta airport and hold a meeting with district officials. Later, the visitors would go to Basirhat where another meeting is scheduled with the North 24-Parganas district authorities.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday that if the visit of the central officials was delayed, they might not get a clear picture of the devastation caused by the cyclone as the state government had already undertaken restoration work at many places.

“But we are keeping our report ready to show what damage the cyclone caused to the state,” Mamata said at Nabanna on Wednesday.

A state bureaucrat said an inspection team could get a proper picture of the damage only when water receded from affected areas. “So, timing of the central team’s visit could be perfect as water has started receding in affected blocks.”

“Now, the team can see clearly what the cyclone has done to houses, roads and other infrastructure and agricultural fields,” he added.

The sources said after visiting the affected areas on Thursday, the team was likely to hold a meeting with top officials of the Bengal government on Friday when the state could share its damage assessment report.

The visit is considered to be important for the state government as the Centre can allot financial assistance to Bengal based on the team’s report.

So far, the state has been allotted Rs 1,000 crore as an advance under the National Disaster Management Fund to undertake immediate relief and restoration work.

The sources said the state government expected a handsome amount of grant from the Centre considering the extent of the damage.

“Prime Minister himself has taken note of the damage. We expect that this time, the damage would be assessed properly,” said an official.

Mamata said during several meetings that the cyclone had caused a damage of Rs 1 lakh crore to the state.