Gujarat Uttarayan Turns Fatal: Six Killed Across Gujarat as Kite Strings Claim Lives

Surat | Gujarat — Makar Sankranti, a festival meant to symbolise joy, colour and togetherness, turned into a black day for Gujarat on January 14, as at least six people — including three children — lost their lives in a series of horrific incidents linked to kite flying and deadly strings across the state. What should have been a celebration of skies filled with kites instead became a day of mourning for multiple families.

The most heartbreaking incident was reported from Surat, where a family outing ended in tragedy on the Chandrashekhar Azad Flyover, also known as the Jilani Bridge. Thirty-five-year-old Rehan was riding a motorcycle with his wife Rehana and their seven-year-old daughter Ayesha when a kite string suddenly came in contact with him while crossing the bridge. In an attempt to remove the string, he lost control of the bike, hit the divider and the family plunged nearly 70 feet off the flyover.

Rehan and his young daughter died on the spot, while Rehana survived after falling onto a parked autorickshaw below, suffering serious injuries. “It was horrifying. Within seconds, everything was over,” said a local eyewitness, as police rushed the victims to hospital and sent the bodies for postmortem.

Equally tragic incidents were reported from other parts of Gujarat. In Khambhat, eight-year-old Dhaval Parmar was riding pillion with his father when a kite string slit his neck, cutting a major artery. Despite being rushed to hospital, he died on the way. In Bayad taluka, a young man, Tirth Patel, died instantly after a sharp string sliced his throat while he was riding a moped.

Jambusar taluka also witnessed a fatal incident when Rahulbhai Parmar, riding a motorcycle, was struck by a kite string that severed his throat. Doctors declared him dead on arrival at the hospital. In Vadodara, a 33-year-old youth died of electrocution while attempting to retrieve a fallen kite, while a 10-year-old boy lost his life during kite flying in the Karjan area.

“These deaths are completely preventable,” a senior police officer said. “Despite repeated bans and awareness campaigns against Chinese manja and sharp strings, people continue to use them recklessly.”