Gujarat: 2,789 mishaps related to kite-flying reported, one person dead

Ahmedabad: While one person died, a total of 2,789 cases of mishaps resulting from kite-flying were reported in the state as ‘Uttarayan’ was celebrated across Gujarat on Wednesday.

“An unidentified person was killed in Amraiwadi area of the city when the maanjha (string) of a kite came in his way, and he slipped and fell while avoiding it,” said Jaswant Prajapati, chief of Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI) 108 service.

Last year, 2,631 cases of accident had been reported. Around 400 cases were reported in Ahmedabad and Surat on Wednesday.

Majority of these cases pertained to injuries due to the maanjha, which is typically coated with glass powder to sharpen it. The cases of road accident due to the kite or the maanjha coming in the way too were on the rise, Prajapati said.

Another typical mishap is falling off the terrace while flying the kite. Cases of brawl during the revelry were also on rise, he said.

In the city, there were 76 road accidents, 22 cases of assault, 21 cases of throat-injuries due to maanjha and 38 cases of falling from the terrace.

Surat district registered 52 cases of road accidents, seven cases of assault, ten cases of throat-injury and 20 cases of falling from the terrace while flying the kites.

In Vadodara district, there were 39 road accidents, three cases of assault, nine cases of throat-injury and 13 cases of falling from the terrace. In Rajkot district, there were 12 cases of road accident, four cases of assault, four cases of throat-injury and 20 cases of falling from the terrace.

PTI