AAIB says too early to reach definite conclusions on AI plane crash
'It has come to our attention that certain sections of the international media are repeatedly attempting to draw conclusions through selective and unverified reporting. Such actions are irresponsible, especially while the investigation remains ongoing," AAIB Director General G V G Yugandhar said in a statement.
The statement comes against the backdrop of reports suggesting that pilot error led to the crash of the Air India plane that killed 260 people on June 12. The Boeing 787-8 aircraft, enroute from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed soon after take off.
'We urge both the public and the media to refrain from spreading premature narratives that risk undermining the integrity of the investigative process," he said. PTI RAM HVA
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
41 minutes ago
- News18
Mughal-era twin forts in Jharkhands Palamau Tiger Reserve set for facelift
Ranchi, Jul 20 (PTI) Restoration and conservation work at the over 400-year-old twin forts in Palamau Tiger Reserve (PTR) of Jharkhand is set to begin soon after over two decades of efforts, an official said. A detailed project report (DPR) has already been prepared for the facelift of the twin forts, built by the tribal Chero kings of Palamu. After verification of the DPR by the Building Construction Department, it will be sent for vetting by agencies under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to initiate the process of inviting tenders for restoration and conservation of the forts, he added. In a recent high-level meeting, chaired by state Tourism Minister Sudivya Kumar and attended by Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore and secretaries of the forest and tourism departments, it was decided to initiate the tendering process and assign the task to a party with prior experience in the development of archaeological sites, according to an official release. The restoration work is estimated to cost between Rs 40 and Rs 50 crore, the release stated. In 2005, the state government had approved the restoration work for the twin forts, but it failed to commence due to several hurdles, including forest clearance, as the sites fall under the jurisdiction of PTR in Latehar district, a retired official of the state government said. 'All hurdles have been cleared and all stakeholders have given their go-ahead to the restoration project. Once the tender is finalised, the restoration work will begin," PTR Deputy Director Prajesh Jena told PTI. Located deep in the forests on the banks of the Auranga River and around 30 km from Medininagar, the two forts — Purana Quila (Old Fort) and Naya Quila (New Fort) — were built at the beginning of the Mughal period by the kings of Chero dynasty. Chero king Anant Rai is believed to have built the old fort on the plains, which had defences on three sides and three gates, while the new fort on an adjoining hill was built by Anant's successor King Medini Rai. However, some historians believe the old fort was built by Raksel dynasty, and later renovated by Chero kings. Cheros defended the forts from Mughals for many years but ultimately, both the forts were occupied by Daud Khan, they said. The architecture is Islamic in style, which reflects Daud Khan's conquest, according to the Jharkhand tourism website. Former deputy director at the state archaeology department, H P Sinha, said a restoration work had been initiated in 2007-08, but it could not progress for two reasons — Maoists and the want of the forest department's permission. 'The entire area was affected by Maoist activities at that time. This was a major hurdle. Besides, a certain number of trees needed to be felled for the restoration work. But, we did not get the permission of the forest department for a long time," Sinha told PTI. The forts are currently in a deplorable condition, with the massive structures gradually crumbling into rubble. In February 2021, an ASI experts' team, along with officials of Latehar administration, inspected the twin forts to draw a conservation plan. A former tourism director said the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was interested in carrying out restoration of the forts but the forest department had raised objections as the forts are part of Jharkhand's lone tiger reserve. 'When ASI undertakes any work, it requires the transfer of land into its name. Since the forts are in a tiger reserve area, land cannot be transferred," PTR Deputy Director Jena explained. Jena said, however, when they studied more, they found that land cannot be transferred to any party in the tiger reserve area but there is no binding in carrying out renovation work. 'If a DPR for renovation is approved by ASI through its technical specification, the work can be done. So, a DPR has been prepared and it needs vetting," Jena said. He said they would go for a tendering process after approval of DPR by the agencies concerned. The DPR was prepared by the Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development (ITRHD). State ITRHD head Shree Deo Singh said the old fort is spread over an area of 18 acres and the new fort over an area of 11.5 acres. 'Stone and Lakhori bricks were used in the original structure. Lime and 'surkhi', finely powdered burnt clay, were used as mortar. The same materials will be used in the restoration of the structure. The essence of the original architectural style will be maintained," Singh told PTI. Regarding the challenges, he said that large trees have grown on the campus, with roots spreading across the monument walls, posing a significant challenge. 'The structure is about 40-feet high and around three to four metres wide. If the trees and roots were not removed carefully, they may damage the structure after restoration," he said. PTI SAN ACD First Published: July 20, 2025, 13:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Print
an hour ago
- The Print
Too young to work, too poor to stop: Children of brick kiln migrants struggle for basic rights
When asked how it tastes, Rajni responds in a defensive tone: 'This is not bad… It's better than no food.' Fruits, she adds, are a rare treat — usually available only when a local farmer tosses away overripe leftovers. Just as the thin lentils begin to look ready, she pours more water into the pot in a bid to stretch the modest meal, which otherwise wouldn't be enough to feed her family of eight. Bulandshahr/Aligarh, Jul 20 (PTI) In the scorching May heat, 12-year-old Rajni cradles her infant sister while stirring watery dal simmering in a soot-blackened aluminium pot outside her hut in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh district. 'This year, I ate a lot of mangoes,' she said with a grin, referring to tapkas, the ripe mangoes that fall from trees that she and her friends were allowed to collect. Rajni's family is one among thousands of seasonal migrants who travel each year to work in the sprawling brick kilns of western Uttar Pradesh. But while the kilns promise income, the real cost is borne by children like Rajni, who grow up without education, adequate food, or healthcare and are caught in a cycle of generational poverty and invisible labour. In 2021, data submitted by the government to Parliament suggested that there are 1.74 crore workers in registered brick kilns, while independent research has shown that 20 per cent of this workforce consists of child labourers. 'Therefore, it can be reasonably presumed that approximately 35 lakh children are working in brick kilns, with the number likely higher in illegal kilns,' said Bhuwan Ribhu, a child rights activist who founded Just Rights for Children. Most of the families' movement, dictated by the kiln season, spans eight to nine months a year. With no permanent address and no local documentation, the children are often excluded from even the most basic rights,'. Ten-year-old Neeraj, for instance, spends his days hauling lumps of dried mud in a wooden pan. 'I can't go to school because my father says we have come here as one unit and all need to work. If I get a chance to go to school, I would study hard and become an officer,' he said. His mother adds, 'Each one of us, including the children, has a role in this industry.' Children are typically assigned so-called 'lighter tasks,' such as fetching water, helping to mould bricks, or carrying half-baked clay, but the physical toll is visible in their frail, malnourished bodies. 'For every rupee a worker earns, nearly 25 paise goes to the agent and brick kiln owners are in direct touch with the agents, so we get just 75 per cent of the earnings, which comes to around Rs 400 per day for a family,' explained Suresh, a brick kiln worker. Elaborating further, Ramesh Shrivastav, general secretary of the Mazdoor Adhikar Manch, said the system is designed to exploit the vulnerability of the migrant workers and their children and keep them indebted. 'For kiln owners, local labourers are a risk because they can protest against exploitation as they have their community here. This, however, is not the case with migrant workers, so kiln owners only hire them as they are vulnerable and less likely to resist exploitation. Moreover, as migrant workers' children don't attend school like the locals, the kiln owners get extra hands,' he said. Among the 20-odd children PTI spoke to across kiln sites in Aligarh and Bulandshahr, none were currently enrolled in school. Only two had ever attended school, and that too briefly, as their parents began migrating seasonally. 'My sister and I studied till class 5 when our parents used to find work in our village. That was back in 2018,' said Naresh, a 14-year-old boy. Despite the Right to Education Act mandating free and compulsory education for all children aged 6 to 14, migrant children remain excluded. The government has tried to bridge this gap through the Poshan Tracker, linking anganwadis to migrant families, but the implementation is patchy. While most parents were unaware of the scheme, the prospect of sending their children away from the worksite was a deal-breaker. 'Who will fetch water or help us mould bricks if they go to school? We came here to earn, not to study. That will come later, maybe for their children,' said Munni Devi, a mother of five. Meanwhile, local anganwadi workers say they often hesitate to enrol children without documents like Aadhar. 'While Aadhaar now allows for easier enrolment, many children still don't come because of the distance. Most anganwadis are located within villages, while many families live on the outskirts. There's also fear that showing up at an anganwadi might draw attention to the fact that the children aren't attending school,' said an anganwadi worker in Bulandshahr, speaking on condition of anonymity. When PTI reached out to the brick kiln owners, they denied employing children, saying the kids only 'accompany' their families. 'It is up to the parents to decide whether they want to send their children to school or keep them here… how can we interfere?' a kiln owner said. Rights activists, however, termed it as an excuse for systemic exploitation. 'Children working alongside parents is normalised, but this is not helpful; it's hidden labour, and it violates their rights,' said Nirmal Gorana, convenor of the National Campaign Committee for the Eradication of Bonded Labour. According to a local official, the seasonal nature of the work also makes oversight difficult, as the workers come in October and leave by June before the monsoon. 'So, keeping track of their movement and exploitation becomes tough,' the district official told PTI. PTI UZM RHL This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Urban River Management Plan launched to clean Yamuna in Delhi
Agency: PTI Last Updated: New Delhi, Jul 20 (PTI) An Urban River Management Plan, or URMP, has been launched to clean and rejuvenate the Yamuna River in the national capital. The plan is an initiative of the National Mission for Clean Ganga, launched in collaboration with the National Institute of Urban Affairs and the Delhi government. The NMCG Director General Rajeev Kumar Mital stressed that the URMP must function as a live document, not just a policy report. 'It should guide action through scientific understanding, risk-based assessments and strong participation from all stakeholders," he said. PTI UZM VN VN Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
