Cuttack: Two persons were injured after being entangled in a stray ‘Chinese manja’ thread near the railway overbridge at Nuapada here on Tuesday. The victims were identified as Govinda Jena (22) of Jagatsinghpur, who suffered injuries on his nose, and Jayanta Barik (35) from Baiyalish Mauja, Cuttack, who sustained cuts on his neck and fingers.
The incident took place while the duo were riding motorcycles on the railway overbridge around 4.15 pm. They were rushed to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
Chinese manja, a synthetic kite string coated with powdered glass, is notorious for its sharpness and is banned due to its hazardous nature. However, its use remains rampant during the kite flying festival of Makar Sankranti. The manja poses severe risks to humans, animals, and birds, causing injuries and fatalities annually.
“Despite multiple bans on the manufacture, sale, and use of Chinese manja, enforcement has been ineffective. Environmentalists and safety advocates have repeatedly emphasised the urgent need for stricter regulations and awareness campaigns to prevent such incidents,” said Suresh Das, a resident of Bajrakabati. DCP (Cuttack) Jagmohan Meena said, “We have expedited raid across the city and stern action will be taken against the culprits.”