Throat slit by kite string, 48-year-old biker dies after heavy bleeding; calls daughter before breathing last

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• Motorcyclist in Karnataka dies after neck slashed by nylon kite string
• Family blames ambulance delay and demands action against nylon kite strings
• Police investigate; protests demand stricter enforcement and better emergency response

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A deadly kite string claimed another life, this time in Karnataka, after a 48-year-old motorcyclist suffered fatal injuries when his neck was slashed by a taut nylon thread on a road in Bidar district.

The victim, identified as Sanjukumar Hosamani, was riding near the Talamadagi Bridge when the kite string stretched across the road caused a deep cut to his neck, leading to heavy bleeding. As he lost control of his motorcycle and collapsed, Hosamani reportedly managed to dial his daughter. A disturbing video that surfaced later shows him soaked in blood, struggling to make the call.

A passerby noticed Hosamani lying injured and attempted to stop the bleeding by pressing a cloth against the wound. Local residents said an ambulance was called immediately, but by the time it reached the spot, Hosamani had died.

Family members have accused local authorities of negligence, alleging that the delay in ambulance services cost Hosamani his life and that he might have survived had help arrived sooner.

Following the incident, Hosamani’s relatives and residents of the area staged a protest at the accident site, demanding strict action against the use of nylon kite strings and improvements in emergency response services.

Police said a case has been registered at the Manna Ekhelli Police Station and an investigation is underway.

Flying kites during Makar Sankranti is a long-standing tradition in several parts of India. In the past, cotton kite strings coated with powdered glass were commonly used. However, in recent years, nylon strings have increasingly replaced cotton due to their durability and low cost. This durability has made them extremely dangerous, as they can easily slice through skin, leading to serious injuries and fatalities. Two-wheeler riders are particularly vulnerable, as the thin strings are often difficult to spot across roads and flyovers.

Commonly referred to as Chinese manjha in many regions, these nylon strings have been responsible for numerous deaths over the years. As recently as Monday, a 45-year-old man, Raghuveer Dhakar, died in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, after a kite string slit his throat.

Several similar incidents have been reported in Delhi. In July 2025, 22-year-old businessman Yash Goswami died after a kite string slashed his neck while he was riding a scooter on the Rani Jhansi flyover in north Delhi. In 2022, a biker was killed after being injured by Chinese manjha on the Haiderpur flyover. Another tragic incident occurred in July 2023, when a seven-year-old child lost their life due to a kite string in Paschim Vihar.

While authorities periodically conduct inspections and raids to seize banned kite strings, the repeated fatalities indicate that enforcement measures remain insufficient.