India warns of deadly Chinese kites

India has banned kites imported from China after several people died after their throats were slashed by the stiff, colorless strings.

Coloring kite strings. Photo: Reuters.

Every year on the occasion of the country's independence anniversary on August 15, thousands of Indians gather on rooftops or high ground to fly kites.

However, this year’s kite flying event turned deadly when in the capital New Delhi, two children and one adult died after being slashed in the throat by kite strings imported from China. Many others were injured, according to the Indian Express (India).

This is a type of kite string, painted and coated with a material that makes it difficult to see, such as powdered glass or dried ceramic powder. This type of kite string is mostly imported from China but some are made in India.

Because of these accidents, on August 17, the New Delhi government ordered a ban on the circulation of monofilament kite strings. Those who manufacture, sell, or stock this type of kite string will be imprisoned for up to five years and fined 100,000 rupees ($1,500).

For years, environmental activists have been petitioning the New Delhi government to ban the use of stiff, potentially lethal strings for kite flying.

Because of its sharpness, this type of kite string can easily cut other kite strings in the sky, bringing victory to the kite owner in kite fights - which are very popular in India.

A kite shop in New Delhi (India). Photo: NDTV.

In the past two years, 15 people have died across India from kite strings, not to mention thousands of birds that have died or been injured by kite strings, according to the Indian Express.

Mumbai was the first place in India to ban kite strings in 2009, followed by other places. The capital New Delhi is the latest place to ban them.

Some countries like South Africa, USA, Brazil, Chile also like kite flying. But because of the danger, Chile has banned the use of this hard kite string since 2013.

According to PLO