Pindi Basant revelry kills boy, injures 163

A 12-year-old child was killed due to electrocution caused by a kite-string while 163 others were injured on Friday as the Basant festival was illegally organised for the second year in a row.

The Rescue-1122 helpline and emergency response systems at allied hospitals remained under severe pressure while patients faced difficulties due to a rush of people hurt from kite-strings, aerial firing and other accidents which occurred in the city.

According to a spokesperson, 163 people were injured due to aerial firing and killer strings of kites flown during Basant celebrations. The injured also included victims who fell from rooftops or hurt during traffic accidents, while a 12-year-old child lost his life due to electrocution caused by a kite-string, he added.

The Rescue-1122 received a higher-than-usual number of emergency calls due to which its emergency response system remained under severe pressure, the spokesperson maintained.

On the other hand, the allied hospitals of the cantonment city, including the Benazir Bhutto Hospital, the Holy Family Hospital and the District Headquarters Hospital, also reported having a high number of injured brought to their emergencies.