'Ban kite flying in city'

Victim who received six stitches on hand because of a manja on Makar Sankranti writes letter to government to ban kite flying as safety measure

Like every other year, the festival of Makar Sankranti did claim its share of victims this year as well.

But, Kandivli resident Anilbrij Singh (34) was lucky enough to survive despite a kite string almost cutting his neck on Saturday afternoon.

"The thread suddenly came on my neck when I was on my way to Kandivli from Andheri on my motorbike," said Singh who is a real estate agent.

Singh just can't stop thanking God for making him feel the kite string (manja) the very moment it touched his neck.
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His neck was saved from getting cuts, but he got six stitches on his palm and as a result, will not be able to ride his motorbike for at least a month.

"I felt the kite string on my neck when I was at Malad on the Western Express Highway and I immediately tried to hold it with my right hand," said Singh.
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"I managed to save my neck but I got six stitches on my palm near the thumb."

Singh said that he was bleeding badly but nobody came forward to help him. "As my thumb was hurt, I was not able to ride my bike," he said.

Somehow, he managed to reach a clinic in Malad, and was sent home after treatment within two hours.

Singh is so grieved at the incident that he has written a letter to the government asking to ban kite flying in the city.

"This is a serious issue and the government should look into it. During the Sankranti festival, hundreds of people get seriously injured," he said.

While Singh was returning home from the clinic, he saw a truck driver getting hurt too with a kite string. As a result, the driver couldn't control the truck and the truck overturned.

"I got scared at the sight of the truck and thus, decided to write a letter to the government requesting to ban kite flying at least near the roads," said Singh.

Ek Cutting!
Manja
Manja is the abrasive string used for kite flying on Makar Sankranti. It is gummed, coloured and coated with powdered glass to help in kite fights people indulge in on the occasion.