Citizens, toxic air
Politicians anywhere jettison the people once voted to office. But the fate of citizens in the capital city is the worst that it can be. During the AAP regime they spent months choked by toxic air. The BJP made merry, eroding its opponent’s image while doing nothing constructive to ameliorate the plight of Delhi’s populace. Political outfits are too busy to think of the people and smug in scoring political brownie points.
R. Narayanan,
Navi Mumbai
Mowed down
The loss of a herd of elephants after the Mizoram-New Delhi Rajdhani Express hit the seven animals, including a calf that was a few days old (Front page, December 21), underscores how wildlife deaths continue to play out across several States. Such incidents point to the clash between development and the pressures on fragile wildlife habitats. Earlier accidents prompted ad hoc measures such as speed restrictions and patrols, yet enforcement remains uneven. A balanced response must blend technology with local knowledge. There must be thermal sensors, underpasses at known transit points, and strict speed limits through sensitive zones.
Above all, mapping of elephant paths and better coordination between rail authorities and wildlife experts would save the lives of precious wild animals.
A. Myilsami,
Coimbatore
The accident is a setback to the conservation of elephants. Though the Indian Railways claim to have adopted safety measures, these accidents seem to continue. There are a number of devices that can be used to alert elephants. AI-generated ear piercing sounds can be played at elephant crossings with the active supervision of railway personnel and wildlife experts.
Dr. V. Purushothaman,
Chennai
Sreenivasan
The passing of Malayalam actor-director Sreenivasan brings to an end a glorious chapter in Malayalam cinema.
He brought the life of the common Malayali onto the screen — their daily struggles, small joys and tears, which every person could relate to. In self-deprecating roles he brought out the problems people have with bandhs, load shedding and unions. His stories and movies were contemporary then and are still relevant today. Some of the epic dialogues in Malayalam cinema will always be owned by him.
Subash Balakrishnan,
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
He was a vibrant actor, scenarist and director. As a storyteller, Sreenivasan addressed the issues of unemployment, power politics and corruption, and gave expression to the innermost human feelings.
A master craftsman who knew the pulse of people, Sreenivasan will remain to be an inspiring force for cinema aspirants.
J. Radhakrishna Kurup,
Ettumanoor, Kottayam, Kerala
Published – December 22, 2025 12:24 am IST
