The Kartarpur Corridor should help ease tensions between India and Pakistan

Our readers have their say about worshipping at a shrine, lesser-known heart conditions and the damage done by poor air quality

Smog in New Delhi on Tuesday November 5. Bloomberg / Ruhani Kaur

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is ready to welcome Indians to the shrine, due to the recent completion of the Kartarpur corridor connecting the borders of two neighbours, Pakistan and India. This link connects the Sikh shrines of Dera Baba Nanak Sahib in Indian Punjab and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Punjab in Pakistan. It will enable Sikhs from India to visit the gurdwara in Kartarpur.

Let’s hope this project helps to ease tensions between the two countries. Now that this project is completed, many Sikhs have reached Pakistan for an historic day. There are no visa restrictions for Indians travelling the Kartarpur Corridor on the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak. Previously, Indians had to take a bus to Lahore to get to Kartarpur, which is a 125km journey.

Mr Khan has waived the need for a passport and said a valid identification card will do while Indian visitors no longer have to register 10 days in advance.

I hope that Pakistani people will welcome Indians and both nations show respect toward each other and to Sikhs worshipping at these sites.

Muhammad Hamza, Rawalpindi

Watch out for a heart condition most people don’t know about

I write in reference to Shireena Al Nowais' piece UAE physicians highlight stroke danger on World Stroke Day (October 29). We all know that our hearts require special attention and that lifestyle choices can result in heart attacks but we need awareness about a serious medical condition that is not a result of lifestyle. Cardiac tamponade is the compression of the heart due to a fluid that creates a lot of pressure on the heart and does not allow the ventricles to expand completely and hence does not let the heart function properly. It is important to watch for symptoms such as anxiety, low blood pressure, weakness, chest pain radiating to the neck, dizziness and discomfort that's relieved by leaning forward. Once diagnosed, cardiac tamponade needs emergency invasive treatment to relieve pressure on the heart.

Dr Mohan Kumar, Bengaluru

India needs to quickly find a solution to improve its air quality

The editorial 'Gas chamber' Delhi: urgent action needed to cut pollution (November 5) was meaningful and thought-provoking. The capital's ongoing crisis was nicely analysed, especially the bit about how millions of city dwellers – from vegetable vendors to rickshaw-pullers – face a tough time. One aggravating cause is the waste that is burnt by farmers and which causes smoke to spread to the city. The government must implement more stringent measures to control pollution levels.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru