Sri Lanka, Aug. 21 -- India's aviation safety regulator is grappling with a staffing crisis that is severely affecting its ability to fulfil its mandate, a parliamentary panel has warned in a new report.

The "profound and persistent shortage" of personnel at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) poses an "existential threat" to the integrity of the safety system, says the report, tabled in the upper house of parliament on Wednesday.

The lawmakers were tasked with reviewing aviation safety in the aftermath of the 12 June Air India plane crash which killed 260 people, mostly passengers.

The report doesn't mention the crash, but flags several other concerns including overworked air traffic controllers.

The BBC has contacted th...