A central team of experts from the agriculture ministry, sent by prime minister Manmohan Singh is assessing the drought situation in 28 rain deficient districts in Bihar.

The team made an on the spot study in Vaishali, Begusarai, Sitamarhi and other districts and took the stock of damages caused to farmers and discussed relief measures with district officials, state agriculture minister Renu Kumari said.

Magadh and Patna divisions were the worst affected by drought as the water table had declined to precariously low levels, she said, adding the water table in north Bihar was slightly better.

State agriculture director B Rajendra and other officials were accompanying the central team, which arrived yesterday.

The visit follows submission of a memorandum by chief minister Nitish Kumar to the prime minister on Sunday demanding financial assistance of Rs 5,000 crore to tackle the crisis.

The team has been informed of 50 per cent of Kharif (paddy) loss due to scanty rainfall, official sources said.

The chief minister has already announced diesel subsidy for paddy and maize irrigation.

According to Met officials, the overall rainfall deficit has risen to 31 per cent from 23 per cent on July 31.

The most rain-deficient districts as per the IMD, were Arwal (-65 pc), Sitamarhi (-64 pc), Khagaria (-58 pc), Vaishali (-57 pc), Samastipur (-51 pc), Sheohar (-50 pc), Rohtas (-39 pc), Gaya (-33 pc) and Jehanabad (-30 pc ).

The Bihar cabinet had last evening expressed concern over the failure of the monsoon and said the drought prevailing in 28 of 38 districts was fast taking the shape of the famine of 1967 in the undivided state.

"The cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Nitish Kumar has taken a serious view of the failure of the monsoon," cabinet and coordination department principal secretary Afzal Amannullah had said.

Divisional commissioners and district magistrates had been directed to submit a detailed report about the situation prevailing in their areas so that the government could take up relief operations, he said.