Makar Sankranti 2025: More than 60 birds injured by 'Chinese manjha' rescued

Animal activists have rescued more than 60 birds injured by kite manjha in Mumbai as part of a threeday drive during the Makar Sankranti celebrations a wildlife welfare group representative said reported news agency PTIThe use of nylon and glasscoated strings persists despite a ban on the sale and manufacture of Chinese manjha across various states in India and they are discarded irresponsibly by people the representative saidDuring a threeday camp organised from Monday to Wednesday January 13 to 15 by the Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare RAWW and RiWild more than 60 injured birds were rescued across the city RAWW fonder Pawan Sharma said PTI statedSharma said that somebirds died before they could be rescued while some did not survive by the time they were taken in for treatment due to the nature of injuries caused by the manjhaA RiWild representative said that therescued birds were being medically examined and many were scheduled for surgeries and further rehabilitationWe have been recovering and disposing of the manjha found at different places so that it does not claim the lives of more birds added SharmaOrganisers of kiteflying festival booked after Vasai biker suffers serious neck injury from Chinese manjhaA first information report FIR has been registered against the organisers of a kiteflying festival at Vasai after a 39yearold motorcyclist suffered deep injuries in his neck from Chinese manjha on Sunday eveningThe incident occurred when Vikram Dange was out with his wife and 10yearold son in the Madhubani area where the kiteflying festival was organised to celebrate the Makar Sankranti festivalDange was luckily saved after his wife Neetal immediately wrapped her dupatta around his neck before he was taken to a nearby multispeciality hospital He received nine stitches at the hospital and was discharged on MondayThe doctors have advised him to take bed rest for nearly 25 days Neetal told middayldquoI have no issue with the kiteflying festival but the organisers should have taken precautions to ensure the safety of citizens in the area It was a horrible incidentrdquo she saidldquoWhy do people continue to fly kites using the banned Chinese manjha Every year we witness tragic incidents with some victims losing their lives on the spot I fail to understand why this dangerous string is still being sold or why people choose to use it knowing it causes fatal accidents Its really disgusting said NeetalWith inputs from PTI