Ahmedabad: The Uttarayan festival has been marred by tragedy as kite-related accidents resulted in several fatalities and left over 100 injured across Gujarat. The worst-hit regions have been Saurashtra and Vadodara, with reports of fatal incidents due to kite strings and falls.
In Ahmedabad, a young man died after falling from a roof. Over 100 people sustained injuries from kite strings, with several in critical condition. Deputy Commissioner B.C. Parmar told a section of the media that local hospitals, including LG Hospital, Shardaben Hospital, SVP Hospital and V.S. Hospital, treated numerous cases. At LG Hospital, 34 patients were treated, with eight requiring further care. One patient died and another remains in intensive care. Shardaben Hospital treated 33 patients, including one who lost a finger due to a kite string. Injuries reported included cuts to the head, neck, hands and feet.
Vadodara reported six fatalities over the two-day festival, including 35-year-old Madhuri Patel from Chani Jakat Naka, who died after a kite string slashed her throat. Hospitals, including Sayaji and Gotri, treated approximately 70 injured individuals, many of whom suffered from falls or train-related accidents. In a tragic incident in Halol, a five-year-old child was killed after being struck by a rope while riding a bike with his father.
In Mehsana, the use of banned Chinese and glass-coated kite strings led to two deaths and several severe injuries. Saurashtra, particularly Rajkot, was the hardest-hit region, with four fatalities reported in the city alone. Among the victims were Prakash Jaysukhbhai Serasia (28), Kashyap Vivekbhai Chandra (10) and Ayankhan Pathan (18). The region saw widespread injuries, with 296 people treated in Rajkot, 188 in Bhavnagar, and 130 in Kutch. Additional fatalities were reported in Surendranagar, Jamjodhpur, Gandhidham, Palitana and Mahuva.
In South Gujarat, Surat recorded two deaths, caused by bike falls rather than kite-related injuries. Navsari and Valsad each reported one death, bringing the regional death toll to four. Hospitals in Navsari treated 68 injury cases, the majority of which were from falls or slashes caused by the dangerous kite strings.
This year’s Uttarayan festivities have again highlighted the dangers of illegal kite strings, with hospitals across Gujarat overwhelmed with cases of severe injuries. The festival, known for its vibrant kite-flying tradition, has become increasingly perilous due to the widespread use of banned materials.
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