Bhubaneswar man critically injured after manja kite string slits neck

A young man narrowly escaped death after sustaining serious injuries from a kite string (suspected to have been coated with Manja, tiny pieces of broken glass or other harmful materials) in the Pokhariput area of Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.

Also Read: Enforcement squad seizes huge cache of Chinese Manja thread in Odisha

The injured has been identified as Kamala Kanta, a resident of the Kalpana area in the city.

According to sources, Kamala Kanta was riding his scooter when a kite string suddenly got entangled around his neck. The sharp string cut into the front portion of his neck, leaving him severely injured.

Following the incident, the injured person was rescued by some locals and rushed to a hospital in critical condition, where he is currently undergoing treatment. Doctors described his injuries as serious, and timely medical attention is believed to have saved his life.

The incident has once again raised concerns over the unsafe use of kite strings, especially sharp or glass-coated threads, which pose a serious risk to commuters and pedestrians during festive periods.

Authorities have urged people to exercise caution and avoid the use of this dangerous and prohibited kite string to prevent such life-threatening accidents.

However, no comments were received from local police or the victim in this regard.

Worth mentioning, earlier in another incident, Cuttack Police had confiscated a significant quantity of Chinese Manja on December 11 last year, following a crackdown on the illegal trading of previously banned products.

The CMC enforcement squad had conducted raids at several shops and warehouses in Jhola Sahi locality, suspected of selling the prohibited Chinese Manja thread.

Authorities had warned shopkeepers against storing or selling banned Manja and indicated that stricter action would follow for any future violations.

Millions of people celebrate Makar Sankranti every year across Odisha on January 14. Kite enthusiasts use the lethal, sharp kite string (Manja) to cut someone else’s kite or to prevent their kite from being cut in the air.

When such kite threads come in contact with a two-wheeler rider or an animal, they cut the throat and cause severe injury or even death of the victim.