Surat's Deadly Kite Strings Continue to Pose Danger Days After Festival
Two days have passed since Uttarayan celebrations ended in Surat. Yet the deadly kite strings, known as manja, still dangle from buildings, cables, and trees across the city. These remnants pose serious threats to both people and birds.
NGOs Issue Urgent Call for Action
Local non-governmental organizations are now urging residents to take immediate action. They want people to remove all hanging threads to prevent further accidents. The situation remains critical despite the festival's conclusion.
On Saturday, NGOs rescuing injured birds reported a significant shift in emergency calls. Most requests now involve birds entangled in hanging threads. This contrasts with the festival period when injuries from falls or collisions dominated rescue efforts.
Rescue Operations Face Growing Challenges
Janki Jivdaya, one active NGO, received twenty-seven rescue calls on Saturday alone. Bhanu Makwana, a member of the organization, explained their dual approach.
"Whenever our volunteers go out for rescue, they create awareness among residents to remove the threads," Makwana stated. "But a lot more work is needed to clear all the deadly manja. It only takes a few minutes for each person to help remove these threads."
Prayas Team Environment faced an even heavier workload. They received sixty calls on the same day. Darshan Desai, a PTE volunteer, noted concerning trends.
"The number of rescue calls is higher than last year," Desai revealed. "Most involve hanging threads. This shows that a large number of threads are still left dangling from buildings and cables. If not removed, they can harm birds and, in some cases, humans."
High-Rise Buildings Complicate Rescue Efforts
The majority of rescue calls originate from Vesu and Adajan areas. These locations feature numerous high-rise buildings, making rescue operations particularly challenging for volunteers.
Prayas has launched a social media awareness campaign to educate residents about hanging manja dangers. They hope increased public awareness will lead to more proactive thread removal.
Trauma Cases Spiked During Festival Period
Surat district witnessed a sharp increase in trauma-related emergencies on January 14th. Hospital cases jumped significantly across multiple categories compared to normal daily levels.
- Road accidents showed increased numbers
- Assault cases rose noticeably
- Fall injuries became more frequent
- Crush injuries occurred more often
Overall emergency cases in the district climbed from a normal level of 426 to 567 cases. This represents a rise of nearly thirty-three percent during the festival period.
The combination of increased trauma cases and ongoing manja dangers highlights the lasting impact of Uttarayan celebrations on Surat's public safety.
