J&K floods: Centre rejects claims of 'selective rescue' by Army, AF, NDRF

NEW DELHI: Centre today rejected allegations that NDRF, Army and Air Force carried out "selective rescue" operations in the flood affected areas of Jammu and Kashmir saying these forces were helping whomsoever possible.

"It is not right to say that selected few were rescued. It was the biggest operation launched by Centre. The scale of the present operations was bigger than Uttarakhand (rains and flood tragedy last year) and cyclone Phailin (in Odisha). Our aim was that all agencies coordinated with each other," Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth said.

He said the agencies prioritised and rescued those "whose lives were in danger."

"So, this belief is not right (that selected rescue was undertaken). It was not physically possible to rescue everyone at the same time. Some constraints were there...I would not say selected few were rescued but I would compliment them (rescue agencies) rather," he told news channel NDTV India.

Seth said all agencies, who are important stakeholders in this case, are "analysing why did it (floods) happen?"

The Secretary also rejected the allegations that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was defunct as it had no members.

"The body does not have members but Secretary NDMA is in Kashmir. It is not right to say that NDMA is defunct. The NDRF functions under the NDMA and it's very much functional," he said.

Seth said the National Disaster Response Force and Army worked tirelessly, day and night.

Even the efforts by the jawans of police and CRPF is appreciated, Seth said, adding, "but these first responders, who were already present in the state, were also affected."

"Maybe if someone was not rescued, they must be spreading it. It is not possible to reach everyone at one go," he said rejecting allegations of a biased approach towards relief and rescue operations undertaken by these agencies.