37 power line tripping cases recorded due to kite manjha in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Kite flying is an integral part of Independence Day celebrations, but this decades-old tradition can be hazardous, even fatal, when metal-coated manjha (kite string) is used to fly kites.
On Saturday, a total of 37 incidents of power lines tripping were reported from different parts of the capital due to the entanglement of manjha in electric installations. The number went up from 26 last year.
Metal-coated manjha is a good conductor of electricity and not only poses grave danger to the kite flyer, but also results in disruption of electricity supply in an area. Discoms had appealed to Delhiites to not fly kites near electric installations and overhead power lines on the occasion of Independence Day.
Discoms had said that people needed to be cautious due to the ongoing pandemic as entanglement of manjha may interrupt power supply to hospitals and other essential services. On Saturday, Tata Power-DDL reported 22 cases of tripping in its area in north Delhi, while 15 such incidents were reported from areas under BSES Rajdhani Power Limited and BSES Yamuna Power Limited.