250 kite flying accidents mark Makar Sakranti in Rajasthan

Jaipur, Jan 15 (PTI) Over 250 people, including severalchildren, were injured in separate kite-flying relatedincidents in the city on the occasion of Makar Sakranti,according to hospital officials.

Around 30 children were rushed to different hospitalsafter they accidentally fell from their roofs while flyingkites in different parts of the city.

Some of them were also treated for injuries caused by theglass coated kite strings or ''manjha''. 70 such cases werereported in Sawai Man Singh government hospital till lastevening.

Several other hospitals, including Jaipur governmenthospital, satellite hospitals and private hospitals alsoreceived such cases.

Meanwhile, several birds, mostly pigeons, also receivedinjuries due to the glass coated ''Manjhas''.

"We rescued 81 birds of which 16 died yesterday. Numberof injured birds will increase by Sunday as kite flying willalso take place on Saturday and Sunday," a bird lover RohitGangwal, who also runs an NGO said.

Several other NGOs and veterinary hospitals here are alsomaking arrangements for treating injured birds.