A Kashmiri resident carries his belongings through floodwaters in central Srinagar. (AFP Photo)
The Central Reserve Police Force or CRPF today said its entire internal security mechanism in the Kashmir valley and other places is "absolutely intact" and the force is multi-tasking to provide succour to those hit by the worst-ever floods in the state.
"We are under no crisis. The internal security grid in the state and Kashmir valley is absolutely intact. We are not dislocated and all our posts are being manned," CRPF Director General (DG) Dilip Trivedi told PTI.
Mr Trivedi who flew in with a high-level team of the Home Ministry to Srinagar has been monitoring both security-related and flood relief and rescue operations undertaken by the paramilitary force which has close to 70 battalions in the state for internal security related duties. These battalions have close to 70,000 personnel.
"We have had some damages to our infrastructure (due to floods), but that is fine. My men and officers are on the job designated to them even as they are equally rendering help in relief and rescue operations," he said.
Mr Trivedi said that while the situation in the submerged areas has improved, the fear of break out of diseases in waterlogged areas remains high.
"We have deployed our existing battalions on the ground to help the NDRF, IAF and Army... simultaneously our boys are helping out locals in the narrow bylanes and interior areas as they know the area like the back of their hands by the sheer virtue of our deployment here for years now," Mr Trivedi said.
He said the force has operationalised medical and fresh water supply camps in various parts of the city even as it has put on task a number of units at Srinagar airport to help those who want to fly out.
Floods triggered by heavy rains in the state have claimed around 200 lives so far and left thousands homeless. It has also caused extensive damage to road, rail and telecommunication infrastructure.