Despite pleas by earlier victims and families of those killed by deadly kite string, Wednesday saw a bunch of two-wheeler riders across Mumbai slashed by the banned Chinese manja
Children risk their safety while collecting fallen kites on a busy city street during Makar Sankranti celebrations
While for many Makar Sankranti is a festival of joy and entertainment, sharp kite strings commonly known as manja that is used in the traditional kite flying on the occasion, pose a serious threat to humans and animals alike, often turning celebration into tragedy.
A 35-year-old cricket coach, Rajesh Parkar, from Kandivli, was injured while riding his motorcycle on the Western Express Highway’s Bisleri Flyover on Wednesday afternoon. He was travelling to his maternal uncle’s house near Shivaji Park when a sharp kite string struck his face.
Bharat Kadam, Borivli resident, whose neck was slashed by manja on the Andheri flyover. Pic/Shirish Vaktania
Speaking to mid-day, the coach said he immediately slowed down his bike after the impact, but the manja hit his nose and left eye. He suffered a nose injury and severe eye irritation after the string brushed against his eyeball.
“I appeal to people to enjoy kite flying responsibly. Your entertainment should not become the cause of mourning for another family. Last year, a policeman lost his life after his throat was slit by a manja,” he said.
A man collects sharp manja hanging from trees in Gorai to prevent injuries to commuters and pedestrians during kite-flying celebrations. Pics/By Special Arrangement
In another incident the same day, a man narrowly escaped serious injury on a flyover near the Times of India press in Kandivli on the Western Express Highway when a kite string became entangled around his neck. Fortunately, the string was an ordinary one and snapped. Passersby immediately stopped traffic and helped remove it.
The victim, identified as Jaishankar Pandey, 42, a resident of Pimpri Pada in Malad East, told mid-day that he had arrived in Mumbai just a day earlier and was returning home from work when the incident occurred. He sustained marks on his neck and later consulted a doctor.
The reporter witnessed heightened alertness among citizens across several areas of the city. At many locations, people were seen stopping vehicles to manually remove or cut kite strings tangled on roads and street poles to prevent accidents. In Gorai, two youths were seen carefully collecting manja hanging from trees and disposing of it safely.
A cricket coach, Rajesh Parkar
However, minors were also seen risking their lives by chasing flying kites along busy highways, particularly from Malad West to Borivli West, Borivli East and up to Bandra.
Every year during Makar Sankranti, numerous birds suffer injuries after getting entangled in kite strings. To address this, Karuna Trust, Virar, along with other organisations, has set up special bird rescue and medical camps across Mumbai and its surrounding areas. Injured birds are treated by veterinary doctors. Multiple camps have been organised this year as well.
Jaishankar Pandey, 42, shows marks on his neck after he got entangled in kite string on a flyover. Pic/By Special Arrangement
Bird Rescue and Medical Camps
VIRAR (West)
Karuna Trust, Sheetal Nagar, Virar (365 days) 9819477042
BHAYANDAR (West)
Ahinsa Charitable Trust (365 days): 9821391283
BHAYANDAR (East)
Jivdaya Steel Association (365 days): 9321503820 /9321503825
MIRA ROAD
Vinay Nagar (January 15–16): 7718060066 /8898116544 / 9821280604
Samkit Yuvak Mandal: 7900043371 / 7900042370
DAHISAR & BORIVLI (January 14–16)
Shree Samkit Yuvak Mandal: 9324747555 / 8080000804/ 8928720698
KANDIVLI
Maa Foundation (365 days): 8655370005
MALAD
Jivdaya Abhiyan (January 13–17, 365 days): 828261212
GOREGAON (West)
Jawahar Nagar
Aasha & Samkit Group (January 14–15): 9987929223 / 9076388362 / 9892465888
Karuna Parivar Trust (365 days): 9833625427
VILE PARLE
Vardhman Sanskar Dham (January 14–15): 9820928457 / 9619725637
GRANT ROAD
Khetwadi
Bird Helpline (365 days): 8655370005
Nanubhai Desai Road, CP Tank (January 14–17) BVP & Shree Shanti Kushal Mandal: 9699560095 / 9833133917 / 9653135551 / 9004403912 / 9892052027
MARINE LINES
Chira Bazar (JSS Road)
Shree Jain Alert Group: 9323237582 / 7977353745 / 9869138767 / 9869388345 / 9619472708
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