Human error caused Saudi tragedy

My heart goes out to the bereaved families whose dear ones perished in the horrific bus blaze in Saudi Arabia. It is a matter of serious concern because accidents of this nature cause death in the most gruesome manner, charring persons beyond recognition. Apparently as the accident occurred around 11 pm (local time) the drivers were not facing driving fatigue.

It happened because of human error on the part of the drivers of the bus and of the oil tanker. In India we have had a spate of road accidents all due to human errors. Before it is too late, all nations should evolve a mechanism to check the health and mental condition of heavy vehicle drivers at regular intervals, besides checking the road worthiness of the vehicles along with safety precautions taken in the event of an accident or fire, because prevention is better than postmortem.

Govardhana Myneedu, Vijayawada

Over-confidence dashed Cong aspirations

This is further to your editorial ‘Challenges galore for Congress post-Bihar verdict’ (THI Nov 18). The Congress party is caught in a self-created isolation syndrome, having lost the trust of the electorate of the country.

This is akin to the fabled Rip van Winkle nap. Entertaining wrong notions and going in for short-cut measures to capture power expose their mindset. The party’s dreams of regaining power riding piggyback and crass disinformation against Constitutional bodies, have backfired on it.

K R Venkata Narasimhan, Madurai

Leadership crisis undermines Cong relevance

Apropos, “Challenges galore for Congress post-Bihar verdict,” (THI Nov 18). The party’s defeat in Bihar adds yet another chapter to its voluminous catalogue of setbacks, underscoring a party unwilling to confront the deeper causes of its decline. For years, Congress has avoided genuine introspection, even as its connection with the masses has eroded. Its most fundamental weakness remains a glaring leadership vacuum — an absence of figures who can inspire public confidence, craft credible strategies, or demonstrate political calibre.

This decay is rooted in the party’s continued dependence on the Gandhi family, whose ability to mobilise voters has sharply diminished. Add to this, the Congress’s persistent failures have left India without a robust counterbalance to the ruling establishment. Unless Congress renews its leadership and organisational culture, its drift will deepen further.

N Sadhasiva Reddy, Bengaluru-560056

Media-regulators-tech platforms tie up needed: Vote manipulation

This is further to your “Vote manipulation: AI’s power and media credibility” (Nov. 18). The growing entanglement between politics, technology, and the press raises urgent questions about trust and democratic resilience. AI’s ability to influence opinion, shape narratives, and even manufacture doubt shows how fragile public perception can be in the wrong hands.

Elections demand transparency, and credibility in the media cannot survive without accountability. When misinformation spreads faster than facts, voters become vulnerable to manipulation and cynicism replaces civic engagement. At the same time, we must recognize that AI also holds immense potential for verification, deeper analysis, and more inclusive access to information.

The real challenge lies in balancing innovation with ethical guardrails. Media institutions, regulators, and tech platforms should collaborate, not compete, over standards that protect accuracy and independence. A simple step forward would be a mandatory public AI-transparency framework-one that discloses when content is machine-generated and ensures that truth remains traceable, verifiable, and open to scrutiny.

A Myilsami, Coimbatore-641402

India should go in for psychedelics therapy

The article “Psychedelics might help terminal patients find peace” (THI Nov 18) was an eye-opener. India urgently needs such treatments for patients, whose health worsens due to fear and anxiety. Many families, unable to manage difficult patients, are pushed toward costly rehab centres that promise results but deliver little.

Added to this is the fear created by doctors, who often skip appointments, leaving patients waiting and losing courage. Working professionals struggle to bring ageing parents to hospitals while managing their jobs, yet doctors and hospitals rarely value their time. Terminal patients deserve far more attention, empathy and timely care.

N Nagarajan, Hyderabad