Six hurt as Basant celebrations resume in Lahore after ban lifted

LAHORE: As Basant festivities kicked off on Friday after an 18-year hiatus, at least six kite-flying-related injuries have been reported in the city so far.

In December last year, the Punjab government lifted the ban on kite flying and allowed the celebration of Basant with strict regulations. The kite-flying festival was banned in 2007 in Punjab because of an increasing number of deaths and serious injuries caused by sharp strings, particularly to motorcyclists and pillion riders, as well as by celebratory gunfire.

In the first incident, a 21-year-old man sustained injuries around his neck after coming in contact with a stray kite string in Lahore’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA).

The young man was returning home from a local market on a bike when the string became entangled around his neck, leaving visible deep wounds.

However, a police official claimed that the injured person was riding the bike without a safety rod.

Earlier, the government had instructed the motorcyclists to install protective steel wires to shield themselves from stray kite twine to prevent any tragic incident.

The police official said that Rescue 1122 reached the site of the incident, where the injured person was provided first aid and rushed to a hospital, where he underwent surgery.

He added that the injured person was now in stable condition.

Orders have been issued to launch an investigation into the matter and investigate the string’s quality.

In another incident, a 45-year old man suffered multiple injuries to his face and neck after a kite string fell on him while he was riding a bike.

Rescue 1122 officials rushed the injured man to a hospital.

A police official indicated that the injured men would be investigated for taking their bikes on roads without safety wires despite repeated warnings.

He added that the act would be dealt with as a violation of standard SoPs.

In a separate incident, an eight-year-old girl sustained throat injuries when a kite string fell on her in Lahore’s Gulshan-e-Ravi area, police said.

In other incidents, two youngsters suffered injuries from kite strings in the city.

Another man fell from the roof of his house in the Ravi Road area, suffering multiple injuries.

Basant Panchami, with ‘panchami’ meaning the fifth day of the lunar month Magh, is a celebration of future crop prosperity, spring, and good luck.

Under the new Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Ordinance 2025, the manufacturing of only thread-based kite strings will be allowed, and the use of metallic, chemical-coated, or sharp strings is strictly banned.