LAHORE, Feb 15: Ten people were reportedly killed and over 100 injured in Basant-related incidents in different parts of the city on Saturday night and Sunday.
Police said only four people had died. A police spokesman said none of the deaths was caused by aerial firing. Hospital sources confirmed nine deaths and said that at least 15 of the total 100 injured people were in critical condition.
Doctors said the people brought to the hospital were either injured by chemical coated or metal string, electrocuted, fell from rooftops and those who indulged in brawls over kite flying.
Asif Ali, 19, rickshaw driver Chand, 30, 10-year-old Arslan, Ishfaq Ahmad, 22, died when they suffered electric shocks and died in Faisal Town, Shalamar, Sherakot and Green Town, respectively.
Three died from injuries they suffered in road accidents. Shabbir Ahmad was run over by a bus near Lorry Adda, nine-year- old Shan was hit and killed by a van on Multan Road when he was trying to catch a stray kite and an unidentified teenager was killed in such an accident near Kalma Chowk.
Three people died after falling from rooftops in Gowalmandi, Gujjarpura and New Muslim Town. They were identified as Sharif, 18, Mustafa Ahmad, 15, and eight-year-old Rizwan.
The hospitals had made special arrangements to deal with the injured people, most of them youngsters. Half of the injured admitted to the hospitals were discharged after first aid and the rest were being treated upon till late night.
"All out efforts were made to protect the precious lives of people and maintain law and order," the city police chief said. He said most of the deaths happened due to the mistakes made by the deceased themselves as none of them fell prey to the aerial firing or exchange of shots.
The police chief said 148 people were arrested for using the banned material used in kite flying and 91 spools of metal and chemical string and 470 kites were seized from them.
Special police squads and traffic policemen remained on duty from Saturday evening to early Sunday morning. They swooped down on those committing violations.
"We have been instructed strictly not to go after those buying liquor from hotels and not to smell people's mouth," a policeman standing outside a city hotel said.
However, traffic jams were witnessed at some of the main city roads before and after the Basant parties on Saturday night when everybody was making attempts to make to destination at the earliest.