Pune: In a distressing incident in Shivane, a motorcyclist's face was severely injured by a kite string, highlighting the ongoing dangers posed by the use of banned strings.

The victim, Rajesh Dhawade from Uttamnagar, sustained a deep cut on his cheek while riding his bike. This incident underscores the alarming rise in illegal sales of such strings across urban and suburban areas despite an official ban.

The holiday season for schools has seen an uptick in children flying kites, filling the skies with colorful displays. However, the strings used for these kites, often coated with sharp materials, are endangering public safety. Citizens have reported several injuries as strings from cut kites wrap around unsuspecting bikers' necks or faces, causing serious harm.

This is not an isolated incident. Recently, Bhaskar Belkhede, a resident of Shivane, suffered severe neck injuries while crossing the Karve Nagar Bridge. He described his harrowing experience of bleeding profusely and rushing to the hospital for emergency treatment.

Adding to the concern, Shivane and Uttamnagar are close to the National Defence Academy, where aviation training is conducted. Experts warn that kite strings pose a significant risk to low-flying training aircraft, potentially leading to catastrophic accidents.

Residents have called for stringent police action against the illegal sale and use of kite strings. Victims like Dhawade and Belkhede have also urged authorities to investigate how such strings are being procured despite the ban and to penalize those responsible.