Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh: A 28 year old doctor lost his life in a tragic road accident in Jaunpur when a banned Chinese kite string slashed his throat while he was riding his motorcycle on Wednesday afternoon. The incident has sent shockwaves through the district and renewed serious concerns over the continued use of illegal and dangerous kite strings during the festive season.
On Wednesday afternoon, at around 12.30 pm, Dr. Sameer Hashmi was returning home after completing professional work in Jaunpur city. As he passed through the Pachhatiya area under Line Bazar police station limits, a sharp Chinese manjha suddenly became entangled around his neck.
The synthetic kite string slit his throat instantly. Eyewitnesses said Hashmi collapsed on the road within moments as he began bleeding profusely. Passersby alerted the police and helped rush him to the district hospital in Jaunpur, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Dr. Sameer Hashmi, aged 28, was a practising physiotherapist and ran a small clinic in Kerakat. He was the youngest of four siblings and was known in his neighborhood as a committed doctor who worked long hours to support his family.
Family members said January 15 was a normal working day for him. Despite concerns at home due to kite flying in the area, he stepped out to complete essential professional responsibilities. Within hours, his family received the devastating news that he had not survived.
Neighbors and patients gathered outside his residence later that evening as news of his death spread across Kerakat and Jaunpur.
Chinese manjha, which is made from synthetic threads and often coated with abrasive material, is banned in Uttar Pradesh due to its lethal nature. Despite the ban, it continues to be sold and used openly during kite flying seasons, especially around Makar Sankranti, which falls in mid January every year.
Dr. Hashmi’s death on January 15 is part of a growing list of fatalities caused by illegal kite strings across the state. In recent weeks, multiple commuters have suffered fatal neck injuries after coming in contact with hanging or loose manjha on public roads.
Jaunpur police confirmed that a case has been initiated to investigate the source of the banned kite string involved in the incident. Officials reiterated that the sale, possession and use of Chinese manjha is a punishable offence.
Police authorities appealed to residents to immediately report anyone selling or using banned kite strings, stressing that enforcement alone cannot prevent such tragedies without public cooperation.
(Rh/ARC)