In a welcome move, the Delhi government has banned use of glass or metal-coated kite strings, commonly called ‘manjha’, after two children died on Independence Day in separate accidents, barely 10 km apart.

Independence Day kite flying resulted in the death of a three year-old girl and a four year-old boy, after the string cut their necks. Although in different cars, both the children were peering out of the sunroofs of their vehicles, when kite strings slit their throats. They were immediately rushed to hospital, but were declared dead on arrival. According to other reports, a young man in West Delhi died when a kite string slashed his throat while he was riding a motorbike on the flyover. The deaths proved catalyst for the Delhi government to issue a notification that sale, production and storage of metal or glass-coated kite threads are banned in the Capital. The notice added that use of cotton or natural thread is permitted.