Chinese Manjha: Deaths and Injuries Surge Across India | Quick Digest
Chinese manjha, the banned glass-coated kite string, has caused a surge of deaths and injuries across India, particularly during the recent Makar Sankranti festival. Incidents were reported from Surat, Indore, and several other states, highlighting severe public safety concerns despite legal bans and judicial directives. Authorities are intensifying crackdowns against its illegal sale and use.
Banned Chinese manjha led to multiple deaths and severe injuries across India.
Tragic incidents reported in Surat included a family of three dying from a fall caused by manjha.
Indore also witnessed fatalities and critical injuries due to the sharp kite string.
Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Gujarat reported similar manjha-related accidents.
High Courts have directed strict enforcement of the ban, making parents liable for minors' use.
Despite bans, illegal sale and use of Chinese manjha persist, especially during festive seasons.
The recent Makar Sankranti festival saw a tragic surge in deaths and injuries across India attributed to 'Chinese manjha,' the dangerously sharp, glass-coated kite string, despite existing bans. The India Today article accurately reports this alarming trend, with multiple corroborating sources confirming widespread incidents. In Surat, a heartbreaking accident on January 14, 2026, resulted in the deaths of a man, his wife, and their 10-year-old daughter after their motorcycle lost control due to a kite string on a flyover. Another 8-year-old child also died in Surat's Jahangirpura area from a slit throat. Indore recorded critical injuries and at least one death of a 45-year-old man, Raghubir Dhakad, whose throat was slit by manjha.
Beyond Surat and Indore, other states like Uttar Pradesh (Jaunpur), Telangana (Sangareddy, Hyderabad), Karnataka (Bidar), Rajasthan (Ajmer, Kota), and Gujarat (Jamnagar) have reported similar fatalities and severe injuries, including a doctor, a farm worker, and several motorcyclists. The consistent reporting from various credible news outlets like Times of India, The Daily Jagran, Hindustan Times, and NDTV, along with legal news platforms like Live Law and LawChakra, underscores the accuracy of the article's claims. The headline accurately reflects the severe consequences of Chinese manjha, which continues to be illegally sold and used despite a nationwide ban and repeated directives from High Courts, some of which have even warned of holding parents liable for minors using the hazardous string. The ongoing menace poses a significant public safety threat, leading to intensified police crackdowns and renewed calls for stricter enforcement.
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