Pune: In a disturbing incident on Sunday (December 8), a forest officer sustained severe injuries to his face while riding a motorcycle on Rajaram Bridge’s new flyover.

The officer, identified as Samadhan Patil (46), was struck by a banned nylon kite string that caused deep wounds to his left eye, eyebrow, and nose. He narrowly escaped a fatal accident thanks to his eyeglasses, which shielded him from more serious harm.

Patil, a forest division officer from Sinhagad, was returning to Pune after managing traffic at Sinhagad Fort amidst a heavy rush of tourists.

Around 6 PM, while riding on the newly constructed Rajaram Bridge flyover, his motorcycle became entangled in a nylon kite string. The sharp string inflicted deep cuts, causing severe bleeding.

Patil managed to stop his vehicle and compress his wounds with a handkerchief. Observing the incident, traffic police and bystanders acted promptly, escorting him to safety and arranging transport to a nearby private hospital. He received eight stitches for his injuries.

Use of Banned Nylon Kite Strings Persists

The incident underscores the continued misuse of prohibited nylon kite strings despite government-imposed bans. These sharp strings, commonly used for kite flying, pose significant hazards to humans and animals alike.

Reflecting on the incident, Patil said: "The nylon kite string suddenly appeared in front of me and tangled in my glasses before I could react. It caused severe cuts to my face and led to heavy bleeding. Thankfully, the string did not wrap around my neck; otherwise, I wouldn’t have survived. I am fortunate to be alive."

The authorities have urged the public to refrain from using banned kite strings to prevent such dangerous incidents.