LAHORE: The Punjab home department on Wednesday informed the Lahore High Court that as many as 17 deaths were reported in the provincial metropolis due to electrocution and falling from roofs and trees during the three-day Basant festival in the city.

A majority of the casualties (12) occurred due to individuals falling from the roofs of houses while flying kites or during festivities, says a report filed in response to a petition against deaths during the Basant festival.

The home department report revealed that three deaths were caused due to electrocution, mostly involving victims coming into contact with high-voltage power lines while trying to retrieve stray kites.

It further says that two deaths were reported as a result of individuals falling from trees.

During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel, Azhar Siddique, highlighted significant gaps in the report, saying the government failed to disclose the specific number of deaths caused directly by “killer strings” (throat-slitting incidents), despite earlier reports suggesting such casualties had occurred.

He claimed that data regarding “hundreds of injured individuals” was missing from the report.

The counsel mentioned that dozens of children were among those injured after falling from roofs, a detail that was not fully elaborated in the home department’s break down.

Justice Malik Awais Khalid also expressed dissatisfaction with the incomplete data and summoned a more comprehensive report that must include a detailed list of all injured persons.

The judge also issued notice to the government on another petition seeking details of public money spent on media advertisements and events related to Basant festival.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2026