Chinese manjha injured a motorcyclist and led to additional two-wheeler crashes on Kolkata’s Maa Flyover on Sunday afternoon, prompting Municipal and Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Pal to intervene at the scene and direct police to arrange medical treatment for the injured.
According to a report by Sangbad Pratidin, a kite string became entangled around the neck of a motorcyclist travelling on the flyover. The rider lost control, triggering an accident. Other motorcyclists reportedly faced a collision risk while trying to avoid hitting the rider from behind, resulting in injuries to several people.
Pal was travelling on the flyover when she saw the accident, the report said. She stopped her vehicle, got down and spoke to the injured motorcyclist. The minister also questioned traffic police officers at the location about the source of the Chinese manjha and why similar accidents were recurring on the flyover.
The minister directed officers to ensure that the injured people were taken to hospital without delay. She also asked the police to register a case and take the necessary legal action. The injured were subsequently taken to hospital for treatment, according to the report.
Police have begun investigating who had flown the kites and how the prohibited or hazardous string reached the area. The incident has again placed the safety risks faced by motorcyclists on elevated urban roads in focus, where riders have limited room to stop or avoid an obstacle that is difficult to see from a moving vehicle.
The report said police had taken stricter measures to prevent Chinese manjha-related accidents ahead of Vishwakarma Puja. No accident had been reported on the flyover during that period, but a similar incident occurred after the festival ended. Earlier complaints have also been raised about motorcyclists being injured by Chinese manjha on the Maa Flyover.
Following the latest incident, police have indicated that surveillance and attention on the flyover will be increased. The investigation into the kite flyers and the source of the string is continuing.
