In a horrifying incident that highlights the persistent danger of banned nylon manja, a 56-year-old fire station driver from Nagpur had his throat slit by the deadly kite string while returning home on Sunday afternoon. Govinda Bavne, who works at the Lakadganj fire station, was riding his two-wheeler through Kamal Chowk in Godhani around 4:30 pm when the nylon manja whistled across his neck, cutting deep into the right side.
Third Human Incident This Season Despite Warnings
This marks the third recorded human injury involving nylon manja in Nagpur this year alone, even though the kite-flying season officially ended two weeks ago. The dangerous string was reportedly dangling near a gurdwara when it caught Bavne's neck with terrifying precision. Doctors at Kunal Hospital performed emergency surgery, sealing the wound with 10-12 stitches after what medical staff described as a serious injury that required immediate attention.
"Bone Was Visible" - How Close It Came to Tragedy
Station in-charge Durgaprasad Chaube provided chilling details about the severity of the injury. "The gash was nearly half an inch deep," Chaube revealed. "The cut was so serious that the throat bone was visible at one point. If it sliced even an inch deeper, it could easily have been fatal." Bavne's condition has now stabilized according to hospital officials, but the incident serves as a stark reminder of how lethal these banned strings can be.
Widespread Impact Beyond Official Records
Despite repeated bans and public warnings, nylon manja continues to pose a serious threat to both humans and birds throughout Nagpur. According to reports, at least 16 people have been injured and 53 birds have been maimed or killed in Nagpur alone this season due to the prohibited thread. Authorities acknowledge that many more cases likely go unrecorded in official police and civic data, suggesting the actual numbers could be significantly higher.
Hospitals and animal rescue centers continue to grapple with horrifying injuries every year, even well after the festive kite-flying season concludes. The persistence of these incidents points to systemic enforcement failures that have drawn judicial scrutiny.
Bombay High Court's Stern Response
The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has expressed serious concern over authorities' failure to enforce the nylon manja ban effectively. In January of this year, the court comprising Justices Anil S Kilor and Raj D Wakode took suo motu cognisance of the issue and strongly criticized authorities for failing to protect citizens' fundamental right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
Substantial Fines and Accountability Measures
The court imposed substantial penalties to deter violators: Rs 25,000 fines on individuals caught flying kites with banned nylon manja (recoverable from parents if minors are involved) and Rs 2.5 lakh penalties on vendors stocking or selling the prohibited thread. All collected fines are mandated to fund treatment for victims of manja injuries.
The court's comprehensive directives also included:
- Creating citizen reporting mechanisms like dedicated WhatsApp groups
- Holding police officers accountable for enforcement lapses
- Making Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) officials responsible for implementation failures
- Establishing clear protocols for immediate removal of dangling manja from public spaces
Ongoing Safety Crisis Demands Urgent Action
This latest incident in Nagpur underscores the urgent need for more effective enforcement of existing bans on nylon manja. Despite judicial intervention and substantial penalties, dangerous kite strings continue to endanger lives weeks after the festive season ends. The gap between court directives and ground reality remains significant, with authorities struggling to implement comprehensive monitoring and prevention measures.
As communities grapple with this persistent safety hazard, questions remain about how to translate judicial mandates into practical protection for citizens. The incident involving Govinda Bavne serves as yet another wake-up call about the lethal consequences of enforcement failures regarding banned materials that continue to circulate despite clear prohibitions.
