CUTTACK: The Cuttack district administration on Wednesday banned sale and use of glass coated manja or plastic strings along with flying of kites on the roads and rooftops in the city.
The decision was taken in the wake of the tragic death of a six-year-old girl who was trapped by sharp strings while travelling on a motorcycle along with her parents on the NH-5 near Telengapentha on Monday.
The ban has been imposed with immediate effect considering the serious threat the sharp threads pose to life of people. Special squads will be formed with involvement of police to conduct raids on shops selling the strings as well as enforcing the ban on kite flying on roads and roofs, Collector Nirmal Mishra said.
“Specific kite flying zones like open fields and dry river bed will be notified by the CMC for engaging in the pastime. Mass awareness drives will be undertaken to sensitise the public on the dangers of using manja or plastic strings. School authorities, principals and teachers have been asked to educate children through special sessions during Assembly hours,” he said.
The Collector held a meeting of intellectuals and prominent citizens in this connection and decided to ban kites with glass coated manja or plastic strings.
Six-year-old Shwetalina was sitting in front of her father who was riding a motorcycle on the NH-5 when she was trapped by the sharp string of a kite crisscrossing the road. Her neck was slit in the impact while her father also sustained injury. She was rushed to a private hospital nearby but succumbed on the way. Her father is still under treatment.