Victims twice over

• The damage so far tallied points to another looming crisis in the tsunami ...

• The damage so far tallied points to another looming crisis in the tsunami affected areas of India. A large number of displaced persons face immediate problems of unverifiable legal status, access to housing and essential services, separation from their families and possibly vulnerability to trafficking. Measures need to be taken as soon as possible to stabilise their status and ensure access to services with respect for their human rights. Rehabilitation efforts must avoid the re-victimisation of survivors. Already the shadow of a black market in foodstuffs and other aid items or extraction of bribes for access to them is appearing in some places. The converse is also true. Taking steps now to ensure transparency and accountability would ensure that resources are directed to where they are most needed, that they are used in ways that best benefit the victims, and protect them from abuse of power. Aid agencies should be more accountable and transparent in their operations.

— R. Bhakther Solomon Chennai

Open all doors

• It is regrettable that the Government of India has turned downs the request of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to visit tsunami affected areas in Tamil Nadu, while other countries like Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia have allowed him to visit their territories (‘No to Kofi’, IE, January 12). The UN secretary general is an international civil servant who commands respect all over the world and his good offices are sought for solving many problems, of regional and global dimensions. It is in this context that one hopes that the government will reconsider its policy and accept international aid from foreign countries for disaster relief.

— K. Venkatakrishnan Aram Bagh

Anara’s plight

• Your editorial on the treatment of Anara Gupta (‘Framing of Anara G.’, IE, January 7) was very timely and apt. It is high time that Indian citizens are protected from the Indian security apparatus. Various acts giving power to the police to arrest and detain suspects should be withdrawn. There have been too many cases in the past where the police have been highhanded, doctoring evidence, fostering false cases and encounters.

— A. Rajaraman On e-mail

Spectre of peace

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• The election of Mahmoud Abbas, known widely as a moderate, is expected to solve the Palestinian crisis for good. Abbas should take the initiative to resume the stalled peace talks with Israel to solve the crisis. Israel should do its bit to ensure peace in West Asia by withdrawing from the occupied territories in Gaza and parts of the West Bank.

— B.H. Shanmukhappa Davangere

Road clearance

• While we are all talking about the major demolition drives in Mumbai, why is no one discussing the illegal occupation of footpaths and parts of the various city roads (‘Go ahead, Mumbai’, IE, January 13). The traffic police should also do something about illegally parked vehicles, as this too adds to congestion.

— Sandeep V. Mumbai

Air India safety violations, Air India show cause notices, Air India Boeing 787 crash, Air India London Gatwick crash, DGCA Air India inspections,

‘Unfortunate’: SC slams reports suggesting ‘pilot error’ led to Air India crash

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The Supreme Court Monday issued notice on a plea seeking an independent and expeditious investigation into the June 12, 2025, crash of an Air India Boeing Dreamliner in Ahmedabad, which killed 260 people. The bench also termed as “unfortunate” media reports which indicated that “pilot error” was to blame for the crash, purportedly quoting some preliminary findings by the AAIB.

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