A 33-year-old man died after a banned Chinese kite string became entangled around his neck while he was riding a motorcycle on an overbridge in Lucknow, police said.
The incident occurred around 2 pm on Wednesday at the Haiderganj overbridge in the Khala Bazar police station limits. The victim, identified as Mohammad Shoaib, lost control of his motorcycle after the sharp kite string struck his neck, causing severe injuries.
Taken to hospital but could not be saved
Passers-by rushed Shoaib to a nearby trauma centre, where doctors attempted to treat him for nearly one and a half hours. However, due to critical injuries and extensive blood loss, he was declared dead during treatment.
Doctors said the kite string had caused deep damage to vital blood vessels in the neck, making the injuries impossible to manage despite emergency care.
Police confirmed that an investigation is underway and the body has been sent for post-mortem examination. Further action will be taken based on the family’s complaint.
Family devastated by sudden loss
Shoaib was working as a medical representative with Zydus Lifesciences. He is survived by his wife Fouzia and two young daughters aged seven and two. Relatives described him as a dedicated professional and a caring family man.
His brother-in-law said the family rushed to the hospital after being informed of the accident but were unable to save him.
Renewed concern over banned Chinese manja
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers posed by Chinese manja, which is banned in Uttar Pradesh due to its lethal nature. Unlike traditional cotton kite string, Chinese manja is made of nylon and coated with metallic or glass particles, making it extremely sharp.
Despite the ban, such kite strings continue to be sold illegally, leading to multiple deaths and serious injuries across the state in recent years.
Authorities have urged strict enforcement of the ban and appealed to the public to report illegal sale and use of dangerous kite strings.