Letters to The Editor — July 17, 2025

Indian nurse’s case

The case of the Indian nurse, Nimisha Priya, in Yemen, and a reprieve for her, is a reflection of the delicate blend of justice, mercy, faith, and diplomacy. It shows that even in the shadow of death, life can still be reclaimed through compassion and timely action (Front page, July 16).

Mohammad Asad,

Mumbai

Unhealthy food intake

While steps are being initiated through quality checks and spreading awareness on the health risks associated with the consumption of snacks and sugar intake (Editorial, “More than symbolic”, July 16), one wonders whether these steps are adequate. The directions on labelling alone may not suffice. Most packages already have information on the percentages of oil, sugar and trans-fat content. The real dangers lie elsewhere. The consumption of a variety of snacks prepared and sold by street and roadside vendors is on the rise, but is there a watch being kept on the cheap quality ingredients that are being used in the preparation? There is nothing more profitable today than the food business. There are no checks in place especially on the use of cooking oils and the ingredients. There needs to be a system where quality checks are mandatory. Comprehensive and meticulous planning is needed. But, most importantly, its execution is a must.

Balasubramaniam Pavani,

Secunderabad

Danger and drills

A goods train carrying 27,000 litres of diesel caught fire near Tiruvallur station, which is close to Chennai, on July 13.

The blaze forced the cancellation of a number of train services and the evacuation of people who lived nearby. Although firefighters managed to control the fire, this is an incident that has exposed gaps in safety protocols, equipment checks and communication. Southern Railway must conduct regular emergency drills. Being proactive measures will safeguard lives and property, and restore public trust.

Vivek M. Jain,

Chennai