Karnataka Biker Dies After Kite String Slashes His Throat
48-year-old biker in Karnataka dies after his throat is slit by a nylon kite string.
Sanjukumar Hosamani, a 48-year-old resident of Bidar district, was riding his motorcycle near Talamadagi Bridge when a taut nylon kite string—strung across the road during festive kite-flying—sliced deeply into his throat. The sharp cut caused profuse bleeding, forcing him to collapse from his bike in agony. In a desperate final act, Hosamani dialed his daughter's phone number, as captured in a chilling video showing him drenched in blood, struggling to speak. A passerby rushed to his aid, applying a cloth to stem the hemorrhage, but the injury proved too severe.
Local residents immediately called for an ambulance upon witnessing the horror, yet the emergency vehicle arrived too late—over 30 minutes after the 911 distress call, according to eyewitness accounts. By then, Hosamani had succumbed to blood loss on the spot, turning a preventable mishap into a fatal tragedy. Relatives lambasted the local authorities, alleging the delay was criminal negligence; they claimed faster response could have saved his life, citing similar past cases where timely aid made the difference. The incident unfolded on a busy road frequented by commuters, amplifying calls for better infrastructure.
Furious relatives and villagers staged a vocal protest at the accident site, blocking traffic to demand a nationwide ban on nylon "Chinese manjha" kite strings and urgent upgrades to emergency medical services. Karnataka police registered a case at Manna Ekhelli Police Station, launching an investigation into the string's origin and those responsible for endangering public safety. Officials promised stricter enforcement ahead of Makar Sankranti, but protesters dismissed it as hollow rhetoric given repeated failures.
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This tragedy echoes a deadly pattern nationwide, fueled by the shift from traditional cotton-glass-coated strings to cheap, durable nylon alternatives. Nylon's razor-like strength—often imported and labeled "Chinese manjha"—makes it lethal, especially for vulnerable two-wheeler riders who encounter invisible strings draped over roads and flyovers. Just this Monday, 45-year-old Raghuveer Dhakar met the same fate in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, when a kite string severed his throat mid-commute.
Delhi has seen a surge in such fatalities: In July 2025, 22-year-old Yash Goswami crashed off his scooter on Rani Jhansi flyover after a neck slash, dying despite hospital rush. A 2022 biker perished on Haiderpur flyover, and a seven-year-old boy was killed in Paschim Vihar in July 2023. Data from health ministries reveals over 50 deaths and hundreds injured annually from these strings, predominantly bikers and pedestrians during festivals.
Despite periodic raids and bans in states like Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Delhi, enforcement remains lax—nylon strings are easily sourced online or from unregulated markets. Experts urge alternatives like eco-friendly cotton threads and public awareness campaigns, while advocating tech like drone surveillance for high-risk zones. Until systemic change, Makar Sankranti's joyous skies risk claiming more innocent lives.
