Bhai Dooj Tragedy: Chinese Manjha Claims Life on Shahjahanpur Highway, Sparks Safety Outcry

On Bhai Dooj, Ravi Sharma tragically died in Shahjahanpur when a Chinese manjha slit his throat on the Lucknow-Delhi National Highway while taking his wife to her in-laws. Despite previous incidents and administrative actions, the sale of these deadly synthetic kite strings remains unchecked, raising serious questions about public safety and enforcement.

A day meant for familial celebration turned into an unspeakable tragedy in Shahjahanpur on Bhai Dooj. Ravi Sharma, from Nagla Jaju village in Kant, met a devastating end when his throat was fatally slit by a notorious Chinese manjha (synthetic kite string) while taking his wife to her parental home. The horrific incident occurred on the Lucknow-Delhi National Highway, casting a somber shadow over the festive day and reigniting urgent concerns about public safety.

Sharma was on his motorcycle, with his wife Mohini, heading towards Shankarpur in Ucholia. As they traversed the Atsalia overbridge on the busy highway, a stray kite string, known for its abrasive synthetic and often glass-coated composition, became entangled around his neck. The sharp manjha inflicted a deep, fatal wound. Despite Mohini’s desperate efforts, aided by a familiar person on another bike who rushed him to the medical college, Ravi Sharma was tragically declared dead upon arrival by physicians.

This heartbreaking fatality is not an isolated incident. Earlier this year, in January, a similar accident claimed the life of constable Shahrukh Hasan under identical circumstances, his throat also severed by Chinese manjha. Following that tragedy, local administration and police had initiated checking drives, confiscating significant quantities of the hazardous string. However, these efforts proved temporary, as the unrestricted sale of Chinese manjha has unfortunately resumed, continuing to pose a grave threat to commuters and pedestrians. The recurring nature of these preventable deaths underscores a critical lapse in enforcement, demanding a permanent and effective ban on these “killer strings” to prevent further senseless losses.