Prayers for the victims of Amritsar train disaster

Our readers have their say on Yemen, Narendra Modi and Khashoggi

A man cries as he stands next to the burning pyre of a family member who died in the Amritsar train disaster. Adnan Abidi / Reuters

Please refer to your article More than 50 dead in India train disaster (October 20). This was sad to read. The recent accident near the Joda Pathak railway gate in Amritsar, while devotees were watching the Dasara festival, was truly horrific. Even if the driver had sounded the horn, they might not have heard because of the noise of the festival. Despite previous accidents at level crossing gates in India, it seems lessons have not been learned. The harsh reality is that no amount of sympathy or compensation will bring back those who have been lost. I pray for the victims.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru

Only with facts can closure come in Khashoggi episode

I write in reference to your article Saudi Arabia inquiry finds Khashoggi died after confrontation (October 20): the incident concerning Jamal Khashoggi has been deeply unfortunate and must be very heartrending for his family. Now that more facts have been revealed, I hope it will bring some closure to this sad episode.

Rajendra Aneja, Dubai

India-Pakistan and the extremist influence of the BJP

I write in reference to your editorial last month A glimmer of hope dims in India-Pakistan relations (September 24): India's diplomatic volte face on an agreed meeting between the respective foreign ministers at the UNGA last month underscored the extremist influence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP, against the backdrop of the 2019 Indian elections. Jingoistic sabre rattling and lame excuses advanced by New Delhi provided some comedic relief to the international embarrassment. The controversial postage stamp issue predates the recent polls in Pakistan because the stamps emerged when Nawaz Sharif's party was in power. As for the ongoing indigenous freedom struggle in Kashmir and the UN Group's recent revelations about human rights violations in Kashmir by Indian forces, blaming Pakistan is rather rich.

Mohammad Hamza, Dubai

We need a speedy end to the tragic war in Yemen

Please refer to Con Coughlin's opinion piece A famine in Yemen must not be allowed to happen (October 19). As one of the poorest countries on earth, Yemen's struggle to rebuild following years of conflict cannot go unnoticed. Its people need the help of the United Nations and developed countries amid very difficult circumstances. It is tragic that the conflict is producing a major humanitarian disaster by depriving people of the basic needs for survival.

The sad reality is that women and children are the hardest hit in such situations. Unless a political solution emerges, it might get worse still. Since Yemen is not able to provide for its own citizens, an immediate end to the conflict must be brought about so that aid organisations can assist with humanitarian supplies.

Ramachandran Nair, Muscat