Lohri celebrations: Use of plastic kite string at its peak

Despite ban on the plastic kite flying string also known as “China dor”, awareness campaigns and police seizures of the string, its use was at peak on the festival of Lohri celebrations, which is synonymous with kite-flying festival in the city. Though authorities seemed helpless to implement a ban on the use of killer plastic string, the traffic police made alternative arrangements for the safety of commuters.

In October 2024, a Verka resident Haramritpal Singh, aka Rajan, lost his life after a dangling Chinese kite string slit his throat on the BRTS flyover bridge on Batala Road. Considering the risk of lives on flyovers, the police barricaded all elevated roads and flyover bridges, while restricting the entry of two-wheeler riders.

Maghar Singh, traffic police in-charge said, “We have launched a special drive to save commuters from the killer string. We have restricted the entry of two-wheeler vehicles on flyovers heading from the Bhandari bridge to Alpha Mall. We have completely closed the BRTS flyover on Batala Road. The entry of two-wheelers is completely restricted on all elevated roads and overbridges for the safety of the public.”

Meanwhile, commuters were seen arguing with the police to allow them drive two-wheelers on flyovers. The traffic police admitted that despite strictness and awareness campaigns, people were still using the banned plastic kite flying string. After restriction on the entry of vehicles on the Batala road flyover, it was free for all residents to fly and chase kites. Residents were seen flying and chasing kites on the flyover bridge.

Meanwhile, a pigeon, which was suffering after plastic kite flying string got entangled around its neck, was saved by the Verka SHO, who was on patrolling duty. Inspector Supinder Kaur was patrolling in the Verka area when her sight fell on a pigeon, whose neck was wrapped with China Dor. The SHO rescued pigeon by removing string from its neck.