Beware of killer manja

Uttarayan is about fun and basking in the warm sun for most Amdavadis, but not for all. Every year some have their throats slit by manja on bridges or roads and some are injured in road accidents because of stray kites. Volunteers and the government machinery have taken several initiatives to prevent such incidents this year.
One such initiatives is covering road bridges with metal wire which prevents manja from coming in the path of drivers.“Shreyas bridge is notorious for accidents involving manja year after year. Two years ago, a woman’s neck was slit and she had to be hospitalized for months from injuries she sustained after falling off her scooter. We decided to cover the bridge with wire to stop manja from coming to a dangerous level on the road,” said a volunteer from the Dharnidhar area.
Siddharth Khatri, deputy commissioner of police (traffic), said a team has been prepared to address wounds inflicted by kite strings on city roads. “We have got special pads which quickly staunch bleeding as soon as an injury occurs. This can be applied immediately and victims can be taken to nearby medical facilities. Police constables have been educated on how to use these,” he said.“The days around Uttarayan are always crucial for us. There are always cases of injuries sustained by children or people trapped while trying to catch stray kites. The most important thing however is the safety,” said Rajesh Bhatt, additional chief fire officer, AFES.