South Asia’s Deadly Kite Strings: Public Safety Risks, Legal Gaps, and Policy Solutions

Abstract

“Our Asif is gone; don’t let anyone else’s Asif go,” said the grieving family of 22-year-old Asif Ashfaq, who, while riding his motorcycle in Faisalabad in March 2024, was fatally injured when a stray kite string severed his neck (1). This tragedy is not isolated; it highlights a longstanding public safety concern during kite festivals such as Basant in Pakistan and Makar Sankranti in India. Despite recurrent fatalities, the epidemiology of such injuries remains poorly documented due to limited surveillance and underreporting. During these annual festivals, the use of manjha, a glass-coated thread, causes severe neck lacerations, bleeding, and airway obstruction. The goal of the festival is to cut opponents' kite strings, but this practice unintentionally puts lives at risk.

Recognizing the dangers associated with hazardous kite strings, both India and Pakistan have implemented regulations to curb their use. In Pakistan, the Punjab Prohibition of Kite Flying (Amendment) Act 2025 establishes a province-wide ban and significantly increases penalties: kite flyers may face three to five years’ imprisonment and fines up to PKR 2 million, while manufacturers and suppliers face higher penalties (up to seven years’ imprisonment and fines up to PKR 5 million) (2). Similar penalties exist in India, particularly in Delhi. In Faisalabad, local authorities launched a zero-tolerance policy that led to over 2,710 cases, 2,715 arrests, and the seizure of over 250,000 kites and 7,200 bundles of kite strings (3). Additionally, safety measures such as metallic frames for motorcyclists have been introduced as an attempt to prevent further injuries (4).