A Kolkata manja accident on the Maa Flyover left two bikers injured, one seriously, after a red kite string became entangled around a rider’s neck and triggered a chain collision, according to a report by the Times of India. Minister Agnimitra Paul, who was returning to the city, stopped at the spot, helped the injured riders and directed police to arrange an ambulance.
The incident occurred on Sunday when a motorcycle travelling on the flyover encountered the string. The rider applied the brakes after the manja became wrapped around his neck. A car travelling behind the motorcycle also braked, while another biker further behind was unable to stop in time and struck the rear of the car. The biker at the back was severely injured in the collision.
One of the injured riders explained the sequence to Paul at the scene, according to the report. The minister provided water and arranged first aid while asking police personnel to secure medical assistance. She also questioned how the banned string had reached the flyover and summoned officers from Topsia police station to the location.
Paul later posted about the incident on Facebook and appealed to kite-flyers to avoid flying kites near busy roads. She said the string had created a dangerous situation for road users and that the seriously injured biker had been sent to hospital.
The collision was reported as the fourth manja-related accident on the Maa Flyover in eight weeks. It comes despite additional measures announced and conducted by Kolkata Police to prevent the use and sale of Chinese manja around Biswakarma Puja. Police teams had carried out special raids in the bylanes of Beniapukur and Topsia to check the sale of the string. Similar raids were also conducted in the Port and eastern suburban divisions.
Police had also increased patrols on the Maa Flyover and Vidyasagar Setu. Drone surveillance was introduced as an additional measure to identify kite strings that could fall across the elevated roadways and create hazards for motorists. The latest accident shows that enforcement activity has not eliminated the risk on key flyovers.
Chinese manja is a nylon thread coated with glass and metallic dust, including lead and copper, according to the report. The material can cause deep cuts to people and birds when it comes into contact with them. Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable because strings can become trapped around their necks or faces while they are travelling at speed.
The reported incidents also place responsibility on more than the road-user safety system. Preventing the hazard requires action against the sale and use of the banned string, along with continued monitoring of elevated roads and public awareness among kite-flyers. Police action and the next steps taken by the Topsia authorities following the latest collision remain central to preventing another incident on the flyover.
