A 48-year-old motorcyclist, Sanjukumar Hosamani, lost his life in Karnataka’s Bidar district after a nylon kite string, commonly known as Chinese manjha, slit his throat while he was riding near Talamadagi Bridge on January 14, during Makar Sankranti celebrations.
Critically injured and bleeding heavily, Hosamani managed to dial his daughter moments before collapsing, a distressing scene captured on video and widely shared online. Locals attempted to help and an ambulance was called, but his family alleges that delays in emergency response proved fatal.
Following the incident, relatives and residents staged protests demanding accountability, a ban on lethal kite strings, and improved emergency services. Police have registered a case and launched an investigation, while authorities have promised stricter enforcement against banned nylon strings. The tragedy has reignited national concern over repeated, preventable deaths caused by dangerous kite-flying practices across India.
A Final Call For Help On A Festival Day
Sanjukumar Hosamani, a resident of a village in Bidar district, was reportedly riding his motorcycle to pick up his daughter when his life was abruptly cut short. As he travelled along the road near Talamadagi Bridge, a taut nylon kite string stretched across the roadway sliced into his neck, causing a deep and grievous wound. Eyewitnesses say Hosamani began bleeding profusely and lost control of his bike, collapsing onto the road.
In a chilling sequence of events that has deeply unsettled viewers, Hosamani drenched in blood was seen in a video attempting to dial his daughter’s number, possibly in a last effort to seek help or say goodbye. A passerby noticed his condition and tried to stop the bleeding by pressing a cloth against the wound, while others alerted emergency services. However, according to local residents and Hosamani’s family, the ambulance took too long to arrive. By the time medical help reached the spot, he had succumbed to his injuries.
Grief quickly turned into anger as Hosamani’s relatives accused local authorities of negligence. “If the ambulance had arrived on time, his life could have been saved,” family members alleged, questioning the state of emergency preparedness in the region.
Protests erupted near the accident site, with residents demanding swift action against the use of banned kite strings and better emergency response systems. Police officials from Manna Ekhelli Police Station confirmed that a case has been registered and stated that an investigation is underway to identify those responsible for flying kites using illegal nylon strings.
A Recurring Tragedy Across India
Hosamani’s death is not an isolated incident but part of a grim and recurring pattern seen across the country, especially during festive kite-flying seasons such as Makar Sankranti and Independence Day.
Over the years, nylon and glass-coated kite strings popular for their strength, sharpness, and low cost have replaced traditional cotton threads in many areas. While effective in competitive kite flying, these strings have proven deadly for unsuspecting bikers, pedestrians, children, and even birds.
In recent weeks alone, multiple deaths linked to kite strings have been reported from different states, including Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh. Victims range from daily commuters to children and senior citizens. Wildlife activists have also highlighted the devastating impact on birds, many of which suffer fatal injuries or amputations after becoming entangled in these razor-sharp threads.
Despite bans on Chinese manjha in several states and periodic police raids to seize illegal stock, enforcement has remained inconsistent. The continued availability of these strings in local markets and online platforms has allowed the danger to persist. Experts and civil society groups argue that temporary crackdowns around festivals are insufficient and that year-round vigilance, stricter penalties, and sustained public awareness campaigns are essential.
The Karnataka incident has once again exposed systemic gaps not only in regulation but also in emergency healthcare response, especially in semi-urban and rural areas where delays can mean the difference between life and death.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The death of Sanjukumar Hosamani is a painful reminder that negligence whether civic or administrative can turn celebration into catastrophe. Traditions are meant to bring people together, spread joy, and strengthen community bonds, not leave families shattered by preventable loss.
The repeated fatalities caused by nylon kite strings point to a failure of collective responsibility: lax enforcement by authorities, continued demand from consumers, and a dangerous normalisation of risk in the name of festivity.
Banning harmful materials is only the first step. What is urgently needed is consistent enforcement, accountability for violators, swift emergency response systems, and a strong push for safer alternatives. Equally important is public participation choosing compassion over competition, safety over spectacle, and life over momentary thrill.
