“Death Kite Strings” Still Sold Online Despite Multiple Fatalities in Lucknow

LUCKNOW: Despite repeated fatalities and serious injuries caused by kite strings, banned Chinese and nylon kite threads, commonly called manjha, continue to be sold openly on e-commerce platforms and private websites in Lucknow.

Online Sales Defy Local Bans
In the past three days, a young man died and two others were seriously injured after getting entangled in dangerous kite strings. While authorities have taken action against local vendors selling these strings, online marketplaces remain largely unchecked. Prominent e-commerce sites are selling nylon monofilament, mono kite threads, and super-sharp manjha, priced between ₹200 and ₹5,000, marketed for their strength and razor-sharp edges. Several sellers have even set up private websites to distribute these banned products.

Sites offering these hazardous strings include amazon.in (nylon monofilament manjha), PatangDori.com (mono nylon kite thread), bablakites.com (super-sharp manjha), and bareillymanjha.co.in (chemical and nylon-mixed manjha).

Demand Rises Due to Strength and Low Cost
Traditional cotton manjha is considered safe as it breaks under pressure. In contrast, chemical and nylon manjha are extremely strong and do not snap easily, making them deadly. According to local kite sellers, this durability has driven high demand online.

Three Accidents in 24 Hours
In Gomtinagar Extension, an electricity department employee, Sudhir, was injured by a manjha. Earlier, retired army officer Brijesh Rai was severely injured by a Chinese manjha at Shaheed Path. The spate of incidents has raised concerns over the effectiveness of police and administrative enforcement.

Manjha Sharpened Like Blades
Experts warn that today’s manjha often contains finely ground glass, metal powders, and chemicals. Hard glass from train headlights and liquor bottles is crushed and coated on the thread, making it blade-sharp and especially lethal for two-wheeler riders.

Bareilly: A Hub for Dangerous Manjha
Kite enthusiasts claim Bareilly has become a major center for such sharp kite strings. Local spools sell for ₹100–500, while Chinese manjha is discreetly sold for ₹300–1,500.

Call for Strict Action
Senior kite flyers and kite clubs are urging authorities to crack down not only on Chinese manjha but also on the manufacture, sale, and use of dangerously sharp strings. They warn that such negligence is tantamount to distributing death openly.