2 Injured By Banned Manja Near Cuttack As Odisha Celebrates Makar Sankranti With Kites

Cuttack: Two persons were injured after getting tangled in a stray ‘Chinese manja’, used for flying kites, near Balikuda on Bhubaneswar-Cuttack road on Monday morning.

According to sources, the incident took place while the duo was on their way to Cuttack from Niali on a motorcycle. The biker suffered a cut in the neck while the pillion rider sustained injuries in his hand and palm. They have been admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital here for treatment.

People fly kites to mark Makar Sankranti and the perilous use of manja, a synthetic kite string coated with powdered glass, remains pervasive, endangering human lives and making a mockery of the multiple bans on its manufacture and sale.

In a notification on Sunday, the Cuttack Municipal Corporation announced complete ban on ‘Chinese manja’ this year while citing several instances of injuries caused by it. Plastic thread and threads coated with glass particles have also been banned. The civic body has formed three special teams to inspect kite shops and take action, if any shopkeeper is found selling the banned items.

Cuttack Additional DCP Anil Mishra had also warned of strict action against those found flying kites using the ‘Chinese manja’ strings.