Write in at editor.india@
rd.com. The best letters
discuss RD articles, offer
criticism, share ideas. Do
include your phone number
and postal address.plants that yield 100 per
cent treated water for
industrial or domestic
reuse is a solution. Each
of us needs to work on
conserving water to
avert the looming crisis.
—Sanjay Chopra,
Mohali
When Breath
Becomes a Burden
This article exposes the
prevalence and the dan-
gers of COPD. At medical
school, we insisted on
asking for a patient’s
personal history with
regards to smoking.
Now, the effect of this
habit is as omnipresent
as polluted air. Unless
the use of fossil fuels
end, the world’s number
one killer may be COPD.
People talk about zero
water, but soon we will
also have zero pure air.
—Dr D. Elangovan,
Dindigul, Tamil Nadu
Rescuing the Saviours
‘Rescuing the Saviours’
is a story of the best of
times, in the worst of
times. The story of how
international coopera-
tion can rescue the
rescuers from terrorists,
despots and fascists
sounds stranger than
fiction. Kudos to Can-
ada, Jordan and Israel
for reminding us that
timely action can ensure
justice is not delayed!
—Dr N. Gopalakrishnan,
BengaluruExplore the World,
Before it Changes
Quite often tourists are
totally oblivious to the
fact that they are destroy-
ing the tranquility and
cleanliness of a place.
During a recent visit
to Himachal Pradesh, we
narrowly escaped a huge
mudslide on the Chan-
digarh–Shimla high-
way—a consequence
of cutting deeper into
the mountain to widen
roads and make way for
tourists. In our pursuit of
development, we ignore
or destroy the natural
wealth we have been
blessed with.
It is time to protect
whatever remains for
future generations, else
only barren lands and
concrete jungles will be
left for them.
—Dr Sujata Setty,
NoidaReader’s Digestreadersdigest.co.in 1513 Things You Need
to Know about Feet
While reading the article
on foot care I thought of
Priya, a smiling lady with
three minor daughters.
When we last met her,
she was limping. Calling
it a slight pain, she said
she was trying out some
home remedies. After
10 days, I was shocked to
hear she was in the ICU,
and the following day, her
leg was amputated. The
small problem had esca-
lated into an infection
and a blood clot war-
ranted the removal of
her limb. Did I mention
her age? Just 36.
Priya could have saved
her leg, had she given her
foot the medical attention
it required in time. Our
body alerts us if some-
thing goes wrong—we
just need to heed these
signs and take appro-
priate actions to avoid
a catastrophe.
—Sreema Kasi, Bengaluru