Kite-flying fatalities

Kite flying in itself is a harmless sport but what makes it dangerous is the use of sharp strings and carelessness

Every year many precious lives are lost due to irresponsible kite flying. In Punjab, there is a law banning kite flying. In 2005, as many as 19 people had died in incidents related to kite flying during Basant celebrations in Lahore. The provincial government passed the Punjab Prohibition of Kite Flying (Amendment) Act in 2009 prescribing stringent punishment for kite flying. Unfortunately, this law is more honoured in the breach than in the observance. Despite the new law being in place, many die every year in incidents related to kite flying all over the country. Deaths occur due to the use of glass-coated sharp strings, falling from the rooftop, and electrocution while trying to catch kites. Many deaths occurred when sharp strings came in contact with those travelling on motorcycles. Such fatalities have occurred mostly in Lahore and Karachi.

The best time, they say, was to plant a tree 20 years ago or it is now. So after many deaths and injuries over the years, the Rawalpindi police have announced that they will use drones to curb kite flying. The city police officer has ordered all SHOs to launch an aggressive campaign against kite flyers and sellers. The CPO said the police had started surveillance of kite fliers and sellers by using the latest technology. The police are to launch a crackdown against kite sellers and flyers. These measures are necessary to prevent deaths and injuries related to kite flying.

Kite flying in itself is a harmless sport. What makes it dangerous is the use of sharp strings and carelessness while flying kites. One legend has it that a Chinese farmer had tied his straw hat to one end of a string and the other end of the string to a tree in order to stop the hat from flying. One day he forgot to tie the other end of the string to a tree and the hat flew. Thus the kite was born.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2019.

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