Banned Nylon Manja Claims Lives and Causes Injuries Across Maharashtra During Makar Sankranti

Mumbai, 14th January 2025: The use of banned nylon manja (kite string) during Makar Sankranti celebrations on Tuesday led to tragic incidents across Maharashtra, claiming the lives of three individuals and leaving a police officer critically injured. In addition, two others lost their lives while chasing kites, and numerous injuries were reported from Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, and other districts.
In Nandurbar, seven-year-old Kartik Gorve became a victim of the deadly manja. Around 4 PM, while riding on a motorcycle with his grandfather, a length of nylon manja became entangled around his neck, causing a fatal injury. Despite being rushed to Nandurbar Civil Hospital, Kartik was declared dead on arrival.
In Nashik, 23-year-old Sonu Dhotre, a driver by profession, lost his life after manja slit his throat while he was riding his motorcycle on the Pathardi Phata-Wadner Road. Sonu, who had returned home to Deolali Camp for the festival, fell off his bike after the incident. Despite being rushed to the Nashik Civil Hospital, he was pronounced dead. “Sonu came home to celebrate Sankranti but fell victim to this deadly manja,” said his grieving brother, Sagar Dhotre.
Another fatal incident occurred in Akola, where Kiran Sonwane was traveling on his bike near Nehru Park when nylon manja slashed his windpipe. Witnesses reported that he collapsed on the spot and was declared dead at the hospital.
In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Sub-Inspector Deepak Parde (41) sustained severe throat injuries from a piece of manja. Parde required 30 stitches and remains in critical condition in the ICU of a private hospital. Doctors are closely monitoring his condition.
In Nagpur, 23-year-old Sohail Khan tragically fell to his death from a fifth-floor terrace while chasing drifting kites. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Similarly, in Nagpur’s Hudkeshwar area, 27-year-old Ritesh Gandhshriwar collapsed and died while chasing kites. According to his family, Ritesh had been flying kites since morning. After running for two hours, he experienced chest pain but continued chasing kites. He later collapsed near a chemist’s shop and was declared dead upon arrival at GMCH. His family revealed that Ritesh had a history of asthma, which may have triggered a cardiac arrest.
Reports of manja-related injuries poured in from multiple cities and districts. In Pune, a two-wheeler rider sustained injuries near the Pune Municipal Corporation headquarters, while in the rural Manchar area, two daily wage laborers were hurt.
Hospitals in Nagpur, Nashik, and surrounding regions treated numerous patients with manja cuts, with incidents reported in Chandwad, Lasalgaon, and Yeola.
Despite the court-imposed ban on the sale and use of nylon manja, violations persist. Authorities have launched a crackdown to curb the illegal sale of the hazardous string. Police appealed to citizens to avoid using nylon manja, emphasizing its life-threatening consequences.