Bidar, 14 Jan

A motorcyclist died in Bidar after a kite string (manja) got entangled around his neck.

Kite flying is common around the time of Makar Sankranti.

The deceased, Sanjukumar Hosamani, 48, was riding his motorcycle near the Talamadgi bridge in Bidar district on Wednesday, when the string slit his neck like a blade, causing injuries and throwing him off the motorcycle.

He then attempted to call his daughter, despite bleeding profusely. The video of it has gone viral.

Locals attempted to administer aid and help him after calling an ambulance, but he died before it arrived, eyewitnesses said.

WAS THE AMBULANCE TOO SLOW?

Sanjukumar’s relatives alleged that institutional negligence caused the death. They told the media persons that a delay in emergency response caused his death.

Mannakheli police have launched an investigation.

THE DEADLY RISE OF CHINESE MANJA

Chinese manja’, or nylon thread, has been steadily replacing the cotton threads coated with glass powder that were previously used for kite flying.

Chinese manja is cheaper and more durable, but also more difficult to see.

A CHAIN OF DEATHS

Despite bans, these lethal strings continue to be available in markets and have caused a chain of deaths across the country.

On Monday, a man in Indore died in a similar incident. In 2025, a 22-year-old man died in a similar motorcycle incident in Delhi, while a seven-year-old boy died in 2023 due to the Chinese Manja.