Telangana: Children die after touching nylon manja hanging from power lines

Manja threads hanging from electric lines have emerged as a serious hazard for children in Telangana, causing fatal electrocution and burn injuries. Experts warn that wet nylon and metal-coated manja can conduct electricity, urging parents to spread awareness.

Sangareddy: Children will not resist the temptation to collect the threads of Manja hanging from electric wires and trees, but be cautious that it could lead to your child’s death since most of the manjas are found to be conductors of electricity leading to fatal electrocution deaths in the State.

Since the pulverised glass and mixtures of some metals such as iron were being used in manufacturing manja, they were acting as efficient conductors.

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Though nylon is an insulator, electricity will pass when it is wet. Since the kite flying season is usually in December and January months in Telangana when the state witnesses heavy morning fog, the touching of wet nylon manja would also result in electric shock incidents.

While one boy was electrocuted after trying to pick up a manja thread that was hanging from an electric line, another boy sustained serious burn injuries after trying to pick up his kite which was hanging from an electric line in Sangareddy district.

A 14-year-old boy Appam Nanda Kishore of Zaheerabad, was living in Borabanda area with family. He sustained serious burn injuries a week ago while trying to catch the manja thread hanging from an electric wire. Nanda Kishore died on Wednesday after battling for life in the hospital for four days. His funeral was performed in Zaheerabad.

In another incident, a 6-year-old boy Abubaker also sustained serious burn injuries after he suffered electric shock while trying to pick up a kite hanging from overhead electric line at Dakur in Andole mandal on January 5.

In both the incidents, the children did not touch the electric lines directly. But, they have suffered serious electric shock as manja threads had acted as conductors.

Speaking to Telangana Today Pradeep Nair, founder of Animal Warriors Conservation Society (AWCS), said that there were several such incidents reported in the State. Whenever they rescue the birds, which were entangled in nylon manja and hanging from electric lines, he said that they will request the Transco officials to switch off the power supply.

Pradeep said that one of their volunteers, Rohit also suffered a minor electric shock when he touched the manja thread unaware of the danger. He urged the parents to educate their children on the danger.