Nagpur: The rampant sale and use of banned nylon manja in Nagpur continue to pose a grave threat as incidents of unsuspecting victims, both human and birds, falling prey to kite flying disasters escalate in the run-up to the Sankranti festival.
In a recent alarming case, a 45-year-old carpenter from Chhindwara found himself rushed to a Nagpur hospital after a tragic encounter with this lethal string. Satish Yadav, the victim, while returning home in a village near Chhindwara on January 2, fell victim to a stray manja that slashed his neck open. The deep gash inflicted a severe wound, nearly splitting his throat. Promptly attended to at a nearby primary health centre to stem the bleeding, Yadav was later transferred to the GM Hospital on Koradi Road in Nagpur, a considerable distance from his village.
Yadav underwent a gruelling three-hour surgery to mend his trachea, which had been severed in the accident. His fingers also bore injuries, presumably acquired while attempting to disentangle himself from the manja’s grip. Currently admitted in the ICU, Yadav’s ability to speak has been hindered due to the tracheotomy.
The medical team at GM Hospital, led by ENT surgeon Dr. Vikas Wahane, anaesthetist Dr. Vijay Gajbe, critical care specialist Dr. Ankur Pathak, orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Ashwin Gajbe, and RMO Dr. Ankush Dhawale, played a pivotal role in granting Yadav a chance at recovery.
In another distressing incident, activists from the Wildlife Welfare Society (WWS) and the Nagpur Municipal Corporation Fire Brigade collaborated to rescue a barn owl entangled in a tree in Mhalgi Nagar. The bird had been trapped for two days, its wing ensnared in Chinese manja. Subsequently, it was relocated to the Treatment Transit Centre (TTC) at Seminary Hills for immediate attention.
Kundan Hate, overseeing TTC, confirmed the owl received preliminary treatment and was eventually released after careful observation. He acknowledged the crucial role of the fire brigade in the rescue, given their equipped proficiency.
Nitish Bhandakkar from WWS expressed concern over the easy accessibility of nylon manja despite its ban. He emphasized the urgency for authorities to take strict action, proposing that holding parents accountable for underage buyers could deter such hazardous practices.
The pervasiveness of nylon manja’s availability underscores the necessity for stringent enforcement measures to avert further tragedies, leaving advocacy groups and concerned citizens urging for immediate and stringent actions to curb this menacing trend.
