Kites kill 20, mostly kids

2005-02-07 08:55

Kites fill the Lahore sky. (AP)

Islamabad - At least 20 people were killed and nearly 200 injured overnight in the Pakistani city of Lahore while celebrating the kite-flying Basant festival to mark the arrival of spring, news reports and hospital officials said on Monday.

The deaths, mainly of young children, were caused by the use of metal-wire for kite-flying, aerial firing, and people either falling from rooftops or killed in road accidents while chasing kites.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shuakat Aziz, President Pervez Musharraf and hundreds of thousands people, including tourists and executives of multinational companies, were in the capital of central Punjab province for the day-long festival.

People flouted a ban on the use of metal wire and aerial firing, which accounted for most of the casualties.

One young girl, named Kashfa, was watching the kites from the rooftop of her house when a twine slit her throat resulting in her immediate death.

Muhammad Arif, 30, was electrocuted in the congested Islampur area after he handled a metallic wire that had touched an overhead power supply line.

Many were hit by vehicles while chasing kites as no proper arrangements were made to keep children away from busy roads.

Officials at the Lahore's main Mayo hospital said besides the fatalities, nearly 100 people - mostly children - were treated for various injuries. Other city hospitals also confirmed a number of deaths and injuries.

Many believe the festival, which includes music, firecrackers and kite flying, receives a great deal of public and private media attention because it helps project a "soft and liberal" face of the country to the world. - Sapa-dpa

- SAPA