4 injured by banned kite string

Phagwara, February 15

Three persons, including a six-year-old girl, suffered serious injuries after they got entangled in Chinese kite string on Basant Panchami in Phillaur yesterday.

Varinder Narula, a resident of Atwal Colony in Phillaur, along with her granddaughter Tarisha (6), was coming on an Activa scooter yesterday. They got entangled in the Chinese string and fell on the road. Varinder suffered injuries on his mouth and neck, while Tarisha suffered injuries around her eyes. They were admitted to a hospital in Phillaur.

In another incident, Subhash Kumar, a shopkeeper, suffered serious injuries in his abdomen and fingers after he got entangled in Chinese kite string in Phillaur yesterday afternoon. He was admitted to Phillaur Hospital. Owing to excessive bleeding, he was sent to a hospital in Ludhiana. The incident took place while he was basking in the sun on the roof of his shop.

Meanwhile, a 32-year-old man, Sunny, sustained serious injuries after he got entangled in Chinese kite string at Ranipur village near Phagwara yesterday. He was admitted to the Civil Hospital, Phagwara.

Though the local administration had announced that “drones” would be used to identify people using the banned string to fly kites, the announcement remained restricted to paper only. Kite-flyers used the string with impunity and were least bothered about its harmful consequences, said social activist Vishwa Mitter.

“The ban on Chinese string should be strictly enforced as it has been the cause of a number of accidents. The offenders should be punished severely,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Phagwara police arrested a person, identified as Kuntal Duggal, a resident of Lohara Mohalla, Hadiabad, Phagwara, and recovered a huge quantity of Chinese kite string on Wednesday. A case was registered against him under Sections 188 of the IPC. Notably, the police launched the drive after several motorists sustained serious injuries due to Chinese manjha.