Ahmedabad crash: Air India seeks Rs 10,000 crore lifeline from shareholders
Chennai: Air India is seeking approximately Rs 10,000 crore ($1.1 billion) in fresh financial support from its owners, Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, as the airline struggles with the aftermath of the Ahmedabad air crash earlier this year, along with other operational and financial hurdles, Bloomberg reported on Friday.
The airline has reportedly approached both shareholders for additional funding based on their respective stakes; Tata Sons holds nearly 75% of Air India, while Singapore Airlines owns about 25%. The funding could take the form of equity or an interest-free loan, with discussions still in progress.
The financial math worsened after one of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner headed for London crashed immediately after take off from Ahmedabad on June 12, killing all but one on board. The incident triggered intense regulatory scrutiny and forced a fleet-wide safety audit.
Further complicating matters, ongoing airspace restrictions due to regional tensions have led to longer flight routes, increasing operational costs. The ailing carrier is far from a goal of breaking even operationally by end of March next year after facing multiple setbacks, added the report.
The financial support is expected to help Air India scale up its own engineering and maintenance capabilities by building hangars at key airports in the country.
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Annpurna Devi expresses anguish over girl's rape in TN, urges NCW to act
New Delhi (PTI): Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi on Tuesday expressed her anguish over the alleged gang rape of a girl in Tamil Nadu and urged the National Commission for Women to take immediate cognisance of the matter.
In a post on X, Devi said, "Deeply anguished by this horrific incident. I urge the NCW to take immediate cognisance and act swiftly in coordination with the concerned authorities to ensure the strictest action against all culprits."
Devi said, "Justice must be swift and unsparing — the accused must be brought to book without delay," adding, "the safety, dignity, and justice of every daughter of India remain our highest priority."
"We stand firmly with the survivor and her family in this difficult hour," she said.
Reacting to a post by former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai, who flagged concerns over the law and order situation in the state, Devi said such incidents "expose grave concerns" under the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government.
Annamalai, in his post, alleged that a 15-year-old girl from Kanchipuram, who had come to participate in a temple festival near Seyyaru in Tiruvannamalai district, was gangraped.
He said the incident was "deeply shocking and enraging" to him and alleged that such crimes point to a "complete failure" of law and order in Tamil Nadu.
Annamalai demanded immediate arrest of all those involved and the "harshest punishments" for the accused.
He also called for full protection and mental health counselling for the survivor and her family.
