Nagpur bikers escape manja on Hedgewar flyover as kite season nears

Makar Sankranti is still two months away, but kites have already begun to appear in Nagpur's sky. With them, the fear of nylon and Chinese manja has returned.

On Wednesday, some two-wheeler riders had a narrow escape on the city's new and busy Hedgewar flyover after coming up against sharp manja hanging in the air. A major accident was averted because they braked in time. The question being raised is whether the police and the administration will need to start preparing now.

The banned nylon and Chinese manja is so strong that it does not snap like ordinary thread but cuts like a blade. Every year, many motorists and birds are seriously injured by it. In the past few years, several children and other people have also lost their lives.

The import, storage and sale of this manja are legally banned. Even so, the supply chain continues to operate. Action against small sellers will not solve the problem unless the main suppliers and godowns are cracked down on.

Because of the design of flyovers and strong winds, hanging manja comes to the height of a rider's neck. Before the rider can realise what is happening, the manja slices the throat and causes a deep wound.

There is now a demand that safety rods or manja guards be made mandatory on the front of two-wheelers on the Hedgewar flyover, at Imamwada and on other busy bridges, so that the manja does not come in direct contact with the rider. It is also being demanded that a special task force be formed to keep watch on illegal manja sellers. A helpline for citizens has also been sought, so that raids can be carried out immediately on tip-offs.

On January 12, 2021, Pranay Prakash Thakre, an engineering student from Dnyaneshwar Nagar near Imamwada, was riding a motorcycle. Nylon manja got caught around his neck, his windpipe was cut and he died on the spot.

On January 15, 2023, 11-year-old Ved Krishna Sahu was sitting in front on a two-wheeler with his father in the Jaripatka area. Hanging nylon manja left a deep cut on his neck and he died during treatment.

Some other incidents caused by manja between 2021 and 2026 are as follows.

On January 8, 2021, manja suddenly got caught around the neck of a young man riding a bike in Manewada, and he was seriously injured. On January 14, 2021, manja caught around the neck of a two-wheeler rider on the Sakkardara flyover, nearly cutting his windpipe.

On January 16, 2022, a student returning from coaching classes at Kamal Chowk on Indora Road had his face and lips cut. More than 12 stitches were needed. On January 10, 2023, a 6-year-old boy sitting in front on a two-wheeler with his mother on Kelibagh Road in Mahal suffered a deep wound on the neck.

On January 15, 2023, an IT professional returning from office on Bajaj Nagar Road had the nerves of her hands and fingers badly cut as she tried to pull away kite manja.

On January 4, 2024, the helmet strap of a bike rider on the Mankapur flyover was cut and he suffered a deep wound on the neck. On January 13, 2024, at Gittikhadan Chowk, a two-wheeler rider trying to avoid hanging manja lost control and fell, suffering serious injuries to the head and legs.

On January 14, 2025, in two incidents in Jaripatka, manja caught on the faces and necks of two bike riders, and both were left bleeding. On January 11, 2026, a young man suffered a deep cut on the ear and cheek from Chinese manja near Automotive Chowk.