Kite String Horror in Surat: Family of Three Dies After Bike Falls from 70-Foot Flyover on Makar Sankranti

Three

members of a family were killed after a motorcycle lost balance and fell nearly 70 feet from a flyover in Surat on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, following an encounter with a sharp kite string.The incident took place on the Chandrashekhar Azad Flyover, which connects Ved Road and Adajan. A family riding a motorcycle was crossing the flyover when a kite string suddenly got entangled, causing the rider to lose control of the vehicle.Police said Rehan Sheikh, 35, was riding the motorcycle with his wife Rehana and their children when the kite string struck him. While trying to remove the string with one hand, the motorcycle became unstable and hit the flyover wall before plunging off the bridge.

Rehan, his wife Rehana and their seven-year-old daughter Ayesha fell from a height of about 70 feet. Rehan and the child suffered critical injuries and died on the spot. Rehana, who was seriously injured, was rushed to hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries.The entire incident was captured on CCTV footage, which has since surfaced, showing the motorcycle hitting the flyover barrier and the family falling below.Sheikh was a native of West Bengal who worked as a labourer in a jewellery unit in Surat, Rander police station's inspector R J Chaudhary said.Several incidents have taken place all over the country due to the banned ‘Chinese manja’ (synthetic or nylon strings). In Madhya Pradesh, four persons were injured in separate incidents during the Makar Sankranti festival in Indore, while police arrested 25 individuals for using the deadly thread.

Made of nylon or other synthetic materials, Chinese manja is so sharp that it can cause fatal injuries.In Telangana, a 38-year-old farm labourer from Uttar Pradesh died on Wednesday after a kite string cut his throat in Sangareddy district. The incident occurred while he was riding a two-wheeler in Fasalwadi village on his way to buy vegetables.The string reportedly entangled the man’s neck, causing a deep cut and severe bleeding. He was taken to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.The Telangana government banned 'Chinese manja' in 2016 due to its threat to humans, birds, and the environment. Sale and use of the string is illegal and punishable with imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of up to Rs one lakh.