Banned kite strings, also known as Chinese manjha, claimed the life of a 22-year-old man in north Delhi on Friday. The victim, identified as Yash Goswami, a businessman, was riding his scooter on the Rani Jhansi flyover when a kite string slashed his neck, causing him to fall off the vehicle. He was taken to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Yash, who ran an e-rickshaw spare parts shop in Karol Bagh, was on his way home when the accident occurred.
After being alerted, police promptly reached the scene and launched an investigation. CCTV footage from the area is being analysed to identify the person flying the kite.
Amit Goswami, the victim’s brother, has called on Delhi’s government to enforce a stricter ban on Chinese manjha. He questioned how something so dangerous could be considered entertainment, noting that fatalities occur every year while authorities fail to take sufficient action. Expressing his grief, he described his brother as being like a son to him.
Chinese manjha has been a persistent and deadly threat in Delhi and other areas for several years. The dangerous kite string has caused multiple fatalities, including a motorcyclist on the Haiderpur flyover in July 2022, another rider on the Shastri Park flyover the following month, and a third on the Nathu Colony flyover. In July 2023, a seven-year-old child in Paschim Vihar lost their life to Chinese manjha, and in August of that year, a police officer was among two people injured in a related incident.
Authorities have been conducting enforcement operations against manufacturers and vendors of Chinese manjha, recently confiscating more than 1,000 rolls and making two arrests. However, despite these efforts, the hazardous product continues to reach consumers and cause deaths.
