Despite ban, glass coated manja leaves deep cut on youth's throat

While the city was celebrating Makar Sankranti, a 22-year-old electrician fell of a bike in Poisar and sustained a deep cut on his throat on Saturday after his neck got caught in glass coated manja used in flying kites. He was rushed to a nearby clinic for primary treatment.

Sagar Gupta, 22, a resident of Nallasopara was riding pillion with his co-worker on a bike, and as they reached Poisar in Kandivli, a stray manja got entangled in Gupta's neck. He fell off the bike, and was rushed by Gupta's co-worker and passersby to a doctor.

"I did not see the manja which was entangled in a tree and was dangling out towards the road. The manja got stuck around my neck and cut my throat. I lost balance and fell off the bike along with a table fan which was on my lap. I suffered huge blood loss by the time I reached a doctor. I later visited my family doctor for further treatment", said Gupta.

Dr. Sarveshwar Dubey from Prachi Clinic at Nallasopara, said, "The cut was deep and a lot of blood was lost, and so we had to stitch the wound on the neck. For relief we have given antibiotics and pain killers. The injury could have worsened, leading to septic had it not been cleaned properly."

Several shops in the city continued to sell glass coated manjas even after the Mumbai police had issued an order banning it. Glass coated manja also affects numerous birds and can also be fatal to humans. There is a ban on sale of glass coated manja in the city till February 10.