Uttarayan Celebrations Marred by Multiple Fatalities
Central Gujarat witnessed a tragic Uttarayan festival this year. The joyous kite-flying celebrations turned deadly on Wednesday, January 14. Authorities confirmed at least four people lost their lives in separate incidents. More than 150 individuals sustained injuries across the region.
Electrocution Claims Life on Waghodia Road
A 33-year-old man died from electrocution on Vadodara's Waghodia Road. Shankar Rathwa attempted to retrieve his kite string from an electric pole. The string had become entangled in overhead wires. Rathwa received a massive electric shock and collapsed immediately.
Family members rushed him to a nearby hospital. Medical staff could not save him. Rathwa leaves behind a wife and a three-year-old son. Bapod police station officers documented this heartbreaking accident.
Children Among the Victims
A 10-year-old boy named Himanshu Kashyap died in Karjan, Vadodara district. He suddenly ran onto a road while chasing a flying kite. A speeding car struck him before he could react. Local police reported the incident. Despite emergency hospital treatment, the child succumbed to his injuries.
In Anand district, eight-year-old Dhaval Parmar suffered fatal neck injuries. A sharp kite string cut his throat while he traveled with his father on a two-wheeler. The accident occurred between Badalpur and Ralej. Khambhat hospital doctors pronounced him dead upon arrival.
Motorcyclist Dies in Bharuch District
Rahul Parmar, a motorcyclist in Bharuch district, met a similar fate. He was riding near Piludara village in Jambusar taluka. A kite string caused severe neck injuries during his journey. Medical staff at Bharuch's sub-district hospital declared him dead on arrival.
SSG Hospital Overwhelmed with Cases
Vadodara's SSG Hospital faced an unprecedented influx of patients. The facility reported 150 emergency cases related to Uttarayan celebrations on January 14. These included both kite-string injuries and kite-flying accidents.
Dr. Ranjan Aiyer, Baroda Medical College Dean and SSG Hospital Medical Superintendent, addressed the situation. "We received 150 cases of Uttarayan-related injuries on a single day," he stated. "Patients presented with minor and major cuts on their necks, faces, and other body parts from kite strings."
Dr. Aiyer explained the hospital's severe workload. Vadodara Municipal Corporation hospitals faced limitations in handling such cases. SSG Hospital prepared for additional emergencies on the second day of Uttarayan celebrations.
A Pattern of Preventable Tragedies
These incidents highlight recurring dangers during Uttarayan festivities. Kite strings, particularly those coated with glass or other abrasive materials, pose serious risks. Electrocution remains a constant threat near power lines.
Road accidents increase as participants chase kites without proper attention to traffic. Children often become victims due to their enthusiasm and lack of awareness. The concentration of cases in central Gujarat suggests regional patterns requiring specific safety interventions.
Local authorities typically issue safety advisories before Uttarayan. However, implementation and public compliance remain challenging. Community awareness campaigns might reduce such accidents in future celebrations.
