Buzz
Kites, recognized as the earliest heavier-than-air objects to grace the skies, hold a rich history across diverse cultures globally. Originating in China over 3,000 years ago, their popularity spread worldwide as people discovered the joy of flying them.
Beyond their recreational use, kites have served various purposes, such as disseminating propaganda, transmitting radio signals, deterring evil spirits, and conducting surveillance. Nowadays, they are primarily flown for enjoyment and leisure.
However, kites can pose significant dangers when mishandled. Statistics show that numerous people are injured annually, with some fatalities reported. For instance, during a festival in India in January 2023, three children tragically lost their lives, and 176 others were injured.
Here are 10 of the most notable incidents where individuals lost their lives due to kite-related accidents.
10. A Tragic Electrocution of an Indian Boy
On January 12, 2023, in Sangareddy, India, a group of boys climbed onto the roof of a rented house to fly kites. Tragically, one of the boys flew his kite too close to a power line, resulting in a devastating accident.
The boy suffered severe burns after the kite made contact with the power line. In a desperate attempt to retrieve the kite, he worsened his injuries and later succumbed to them at a nearby hospital. Reports indicate he sustained burns on over 90% of his body, while his friends suffered burns covering 30% of theirs.
India’s power lines operate at a transmission voltage of 765 kV AC, one of the highest in the world, equivalent to 115,000 volts. While shocks above 2,700 volts are often deadly, and those exceeding 11,000 volts are typically fatal, it is the current (measured in amperes) rather than the voltage that primarily determines the severity of the injury.
9. Fatal Fall While Flying a Kite
In 2021, a 44-year-old man faced a tragic accident while flying a kite. During a Sankranti celebration in Hyderabad, India, he was enjoying the activity with neighbors when he fell from a height of at least four stories. The incident happened as he unknowingly approached the edge of the building’s terrace and lost his footing.
The man tragically landed on the building’s metal gate, resulting in his immediate death before he could receive medical attention. In response, the local police commissioner urged the public to avoid flying kites from high places. He also advised parents to educate their children about the dangers of running into hazardous areas, such as busy roads, while chasing kites.
To provide context, a six-story building ranges between 60 to 90 feet (18.3 to 27.4 meters) in height. While falls from 20 to 25 feet (6.1 to 7.6 meters) can sometimes be survived, the risk of fatality increases significantly with greater heights. Research indicates that falls from eight stories (98 feet or 29.9 meters) are almost invariably fatal.
8. Electrocution Caused by Kite String
In July 2017, India’s National Green Tribunal imposed a complete ban on manja, a non-biodegradable kite string made from nylon or other synthetic materials. This decision was taken due to the material’s harmful effects on animals, birds, and humans.
Two months later, a 33-year-old man in eastern India ignored the regulation. While flying a kite from his rooftop, the kite got caught in high-tension wires. The manja, reinforced with glass and metal dust, acted as a conductor when it touched a 33,000-volt power line. His son, holding the string, was shocked and thrown backward instantly.
The man, who ran a stationery shop, was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries. His daughter, nephew, and niece also sustained injuries while trying to pull his hand away from the electrified kite string.
7. Tragic Death of Boy After Fall from Giant Kite
In 2015, a five-year-old boy in Vietnam tragically died after getting entangled in the ropes of a massive kite. He was lifted 65 feet (20 meters) into the air before plummeting to the ground. A video captured the horrifying incident, showing onlookers helplessly watching as the kite soared too quickly for anyone to intervene. The boy was released when some of the kite strings broke, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
The boy had wandered away from his mother while members of the Saigon Kite Club attempted to launch a giant kite featuring a replica of the Vietnamese flag, measuring nearly 50 feet (15 meters) wide. Witnesses reported that the kite failed to take off multiple times before finally catching the wind. During its ascent, it knocked over a table and chairs near the booth where the boy’s mother was working. It is believed the boy approached the kite to collect soft drink bottles when he became entangled in its strings.
6. Fatal Accident Involving a Giant Japanese Kite
In 2015, a massive kite weighing over 1,000 pounds (453 kilograms) fell from the sky during an event in Higashiomi, Japan, injuring four people. One of the victims, a man, later died from his injuries. Witnesses reported that the kite appeared unstable shortly after takeoff, tilting sideways before crashing to the ground as spectators scrambled for safety.
The incident occurred on a day when strong winds had been forecasted. Among the injured were two elderly men and a young boy.
The Higashiomi Giant Kite Festival, known for its enormous bamboo-and-paper kites, saw its second fatal accident in just ten weeks, adding to the shock of the tragedy.
5. Tragic Death of Boy Who Fell into a Gutter While Flying a Kite
In 2023, a young boy from Cuttack, India, left his home unnoticed and tragically fell into an open drain in the Bidanasi area while flying his kite, resulting in his death.
At the time of the incident, the boy’s family was occupied watching television. The Cuttack Municipal Corporation officials later held the family partially responsible for failing to prevent the accident. The drain had been left uncovered at multiple points after construction work halted two months prior. Had the Municipal Corporation secured the drain with concrete slabs, the tragedy could have been avoided.
This was not an isolated incident that month. Weeks earlier, a South Korean journalist had fallen into an open drain in Bhubaneswar, India, while having tea at a roadside stall.
4. Mumbai Boy’s Throat Severely Injured by Kite String
Also in 2023, a boy in Mumbai, India, was enjoying the view from his family’s sunroof as they traveled along the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway to their vacation home. The vehicle carried his parents, sister, and grandparents. Suddenly, a kite string wrapped around his neck, causing severe injury.
During the incident, the vehicle was moving at a moderate pace and nearing its destination. The boy was rushed to the hospital with severe bleeding. Despite efforts by his mother, a doctor, and another physician to apply pressure to the wound, the boy succumbed to his injuries. The fatal kite string was made of nylon.
Unbeknownst to the boy, a girl had tragically lost her life in a similar manner that same day, also while looking out of a sunroof.
3. English Man Dies While Flying a Stunt Kite
In 2011, a 20-year-old man in Dunstable Downs, Bedfordshire, England, was lifted 50 feet (15 meters) into the air by a powerful gust of wind while flying a stunt kite. Despite his four years of experience, he had never used safety equipment. The wind propelled him 7 feet (2.1 meters) forward, 40 feet (12 meters) upward, and an additional 20 feet (6 meters) before he fell to the ground. The impact caused multiple fractures to his arm, legs, and pelvis, along with a suspected heart attack and brain injury. Paramedics found him unconscious and not breathing, and he was later pronounced dead.
Kite flying organizations strongly advise caution when using stunt kites due to their powerful pull, lift, and speed. UK regulations also prohibit flying kites above 197 feet (60 meters) without approval from the Civil Aviation Authority. Unfortunately, these safety measures were not enough to prevent the tragedy.
2. Motorcyclist Fatally Injured by Kite String
In early 2023, a man in Surat, India, lost his life when a stray kite string cut his neck while he was riding his motorcycle. The man was returning home from his job at a power loom factory located in a diamond industrial estate at the time of the accident.
According to police reports, the man suffered severe injuries to his throat and neck but managed to bring his bike to a safe stop. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was later declared dead. The incident occurred just before India’s annual Uttaryan kite festival.
Uttaryan, also known as Makar Sankranti, is a harvest festival celebrating the end of winter and the arrival of longer days. During the festivities, participants shout “Kai Po Che” while flying kites. The festival also honors the Hindu epic, Mahabharata.
1. Tragic Death of 11 at Pakistan Kite Festival
An annual spring festival in eastern Pakistan turned tragic when 11 people lost their lives and over 100 were injured. The event, known for its vibrant kite displays, saw fatalities caused by stray bullets, kite strings, electrocutions, and falls from rooftops during kite flying.
In Pakistan, some kite enthusiasts use sharp strings coated with ground glass or wire to cut competitors’ kites or cause harm. However, this practice often results in severe injuries or deaths to birds, animals, and humans.
During the festival, Pakistani authorities arrested more than 700 individuals for using hazardous kite strings or firing weapons. They also confiscated 282 illegal firearms. In 2006, a temporary ban on kite flying was enforced after multiple deaths, leading to over 1,000 arrests for producing or selling dangerous kite strings. Following the recent 11 fatalities, the ban was reinstated.
