Odisha has reported multiple injuries caused by the use of banned manja thread during Makar Sankranti celebrations, sparking renewed concerns over public safety and weak enforcement of restrictions. Incidents were recorded from several districts, including Bhubaneswar, Balasore and Dhenkanal, despite repeated warnings against the hazardous thread.
On Wednesday, a man in Balasore suffered serious neck injuries after coming into contact with a snapped kite string, while a youth in Dhenkanal sustained deep cuts to his nose and fingers due to manja thread. Earlier, a similar incident had been reported from Pokhariput in Bhubaneswar.
In Balasore, the injured victim was identified as Bhagirathi Behera, who was returning from Bhogarai when a drifting kite string struck him. He sustained injuries to his neck and hand while trying to disentangle himself and was rushed to hospital, where he was treated and later discharged. Officials noted that the incident could have been fatal had the vehicle been moving at a higher speed.
Authorities said at least five such incidents were reported in Balasore alone, with over 15 injuries recorded across Odisha during the festival. Despite a ban on the sale and use of Chinese manja, the thread is allegedly being sold illegally.
Police in Bhubaneswar carried out raids in markets to curb illegal sales and warned that injuries caused by manja thread would be treated as culpable homicide, with action against both sellers and users. Special teams have been formed to identify and arrest offenders, and similar enforcement drives are underway in other parts of the state.
