Deadly Kite Season: Banned Chinese Manja Claims Nine Lives in Gujarat
The festive kite-flying season descended into tragedy across Gujarat. Banned Chinese manja, a sharp glass-coated string, turned into a lethal weapon. It directly caused nine deaths in the state. Authorities report a grim toll from what should have been a joyous celebration.
Surat Witnesses Multiple Fatalities
A horrific accident occurred on the Chandrashekhar Azad flyover in Surat. Rehan Shaikh, 34, was riding a motorbike with his wife Rehana Bibi and their daughter. He reportedly lost control while trying to avoid manja strands dangling across the bridge. The motorcycle struck the railing and plunged about 60 feet to the ground below.
Rehan Shaikh and his daughter Alisha Khatun died after being rushed to the hospital. Rehana Bibi initially survived the fall but succumbed to her injuries at the hospital on Thursday. The family tragedy highlights the extreme danger posed by the illegal kite strings.
In another Surat neighborhood, Jahangirpura, eight-year-old Riyansh Borse was cycling. A stray kite string suddenly cut his throat. He died from severe bleeding at the scene. Prince Batham, a 23-year-old native of Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh, died in a similar, gruesome manner in a separate location.
Fatalities Spread Across Gujarat Districts
The danger was not confined to Surat. Incidents were reported from several other districts:
- Bharuch: Rahul Parmar, 35, died after a manja string cut his throat while he was riding a motorcycle.
- Anand: An eight-year-old boy suffered critical neck injuries while riding on the fuel tank of his father's motorcycle. He later died from his wounds.
- Aravalli: Seventeen-year-old Tirth Patel died after a kite string caught around his neck.
These cases show how the manja acts as an invisible, deadly trap for unsuspecting citizens.
Electrocution Adds to the Death Toll
Beyond the direct cuts, kite-flying led to fatal electrocutions. In Vadodara, Shankar Rathwa was electrocuted. He tried to retrieve his own kite after it became entangled in an overhead power cable.
A separate tragedy unfolded in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra. Fireman Nitin Pashte, 50, answered a call to rescue a crow tangled in manja on a high-tension electric pole. During the rescue attempt, he was electrocuted and lost his life.
The combined incidents paint a devastating picture of this year's kite season. They underscore the urgent need for stricter enforcement of the ban on Chinese manja and greater public awareness about its lethal risks.
