Bhubaneswar, Nov 24 (IANS) Orissa Tuesday declared 3,264 villages in the state's 15 districts as drought hit.

The government has also declared 42 wards under nine municipal areas in the state drought hit, state Revenue Minister Suryanarayan Patro said in the assembly.

The Orissa government had Oct 29 asked senior officials of its revenue, relief and agriculture departments to submit reports on the status of autumn paddy and kharif crop cutting.

On the basis of their report, the government has taken this decision, Patro said in the house.

The decision will help the state government get central assistance for relief work in the affected areas.