LAHORE: The incidents of stray kite strings killing and injuring people are increasing in the city while the district administration and police have failed to keep a check on the banned sport of kite flying.

In the fresh incident, a three-year-old child was killed after a kite string slit his throat in the Masti Gate area on Sunday night.

Khizar was riding a motorcycle along with his father, Owais, and other siblings when a kite string slit his jugular vein. The minor boy was seated at the petrol tank of the motorcycle in front of his father when the incident happened. The injured was shifted to the Nawaz Sharif Hospital where he could not survive.

Police registered a case against the unidentified kite flyer/s under the Punjab Prohibition of Kite Flying Act.

On May 30, a motorcyclist was critically injured by a stray kite string on the Circular Road in the Lower Mall area.

On May 5, a professor at the Government Dyal Singh College was killed when a kite string slashed his throat while he was riding a motorbike at the city’s Muslim Town flyover.

On April 15, a 51-year-old man died after the string of a stray kite slit his throat on Canal Road in Harbanspura.

On April 13, a prison department official, Nauman, suffered critical injuries when a kite string slit his neck on the Jail Road.

On Jan 24, three people were injured by kite string in different areas of the city.

In the first incident, two teenage motorcyclists were going somewhere when a stray kite string brushed against the driver’s forehead and also entangled in the neck of the other passenger at Lahore General Hospital Flyover. In the second incident, a motorcyclist was critically injured when a kite string entangled in his neck at Yadgar Chowk flyover.

Kite flying has been banned in Punjab for several years owing to casualties its string causes. Any violation is punishable with imprisonment and fine or both under the law. However, youngsters resort fly kites in some areas of the city in violation of the ban.

Last week, the capital city police claimed to have arrested 5,027 people for kite flying and recovered more than 51,000 and 700 kites as well as 6,705 string rolls from them.

DIG Operations Sajid Kiyani on Sunday held a meeting on kite flying violations and directed the SSP operations to personally monitor action against over kite flying violations.

He said kite manufacturing, selling and flying would not be tolerated and action should also be taken against the station house officer concerned where kite flying would happen. He sought launch of a campaign against kite flying.

Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has taken notice of death of a three-year- old Khizar as stray kite string slit his throat in Lahore and sought a report from the CCPO Lahore. He expressed sorrow and grief over the tragic incident.

The CM also extended heart-felt sympathies and condolences for the bereaved family.

Mr Buzdar has expressed his indignation over the incidents of kite flying in Lahore and issued directions for action against those responsible.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2021