Gujarat : The joyous skies of Gujarat, usually filled with colorful kites during the Makar Sankranti festival, turned tragically dark this year. Seven lives were lost across the state due to accidents related to kite strings, casting a grim shadow over the festive celebrations.
The fatalities were reported from Dahod, Panchmahal, Bhavnagar, and Valsad districts. The victims, ranging from young children to young adults, lost their lives in various ways, highlighting the dangers associated with kite flying, particularly the use of sharp, coated strings known as 'manjha'.
In a heart-wrenching incident, a 10-year-old boy in Dahod met his end while trying to retrieve a kite stuck in an electric wire. The impact of a strong shock electrocuted him, leaving behind a gaping void in his family's celebration.
Elsewhere, a 6-year-old boy in Valsad fell from the rooftop while flying a kite, while a 7-year-old boy in Panchmahal became a victim of manjha's deadly edge, succumbing to injuries inflicted on his throat.
The tragedy extended beyond kite flying itself. A 20-year-old in Vadodara lost his life on a two-wheeler, entangled in a straw-laden manjha that pierced his neck. In Rajkot, another young man tragically succumbed to a fall from his rooftop while engaged in festive kite-flying.
These heartbreaking incidents stand as a stark reminder of the potential dangers lurking behind seemingly harmless traditions. The havoc of manjha, in particular, had already begun weeks before Makar Sankranti, claiming lives in Kheda and Nadiad districts as early as November and January.
As investigations into these tragedies continue, questions arise regarding the effectiveness of measures taken to regulate and control the use of dangerous manjha. The festive spirit of Makar Sankranti deserves to be celebrated with joy and safety, and addressing the threat posed by unsafe kite strings becomes an urgent priority to prevent further loss of life in future celebrations.
