Pune Woman’s Near-Fatal Encounter with Kite ‘Manjha’

New Delhi, January 10, 2026: A chilling incident from the heart of Pune has sent shockwaves through social media, serving as a grim prelude to the upcoming Makar Sankranti festivities. On January 2, 2026, an influencer named Tanya Poddar was returning home from work when her life was nearly claimed by a stray kite string. While crossing a bridge—a mere few hundred meters from her residence—she suddenly felt a thread tighten around her neck. What was initially mistaken for a harmless obstruction turned out to be the “deadly” banned nylon manjha, which sliced through her skin with surgical precision.

“I Was Struggling for My Life”: The Viral Testimony

In a video that has since crossed millions of views, Tanya recounts the harrowing moments as she fought to free herself from the tightening grip of the abrasive string. The friction caused immediate burn injuries and deep cuts to her neck, while her attempts to pull the string away resulted in a severely stitched finger. “I was struggling for my life,” she stated in her testimony, noting that a slightly deeper incision could have severed her vocal cords or main arteries. The incident has left her with not just physical scars, but lasting psychological trauma as she navigates a regular route that nearly became her final destination.

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The Persistence of Banned Nylon Manjha

The viral video has reignited a fierce national debate regarding the continued use of Chinese or nylon manjha, despite a long-standing ban by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). While traditional cotton thread is biodegradable and safe, these synthetic variants are coated with crushed glass and chemicals to make them “unbreakable” in competitive kite flying. It has been observed by urban safety experts that when these strings get caught across bridges and high-traffic roads, they become invisible “nooses” for two-wheeler riders, who often lack the time to react before the string strikes their throat.

A Public Safety Crisis Ahead of the Festival

As of January 10, 2026, the Pune Police have reportedly intensified crackdowns on illegal vendors, yet the “black market” for sharp manjha continues to thrive. Tanya’s case is not an isolated one; several reports have emerged from cities like Nashik and Sambhajinagar of similar accidents occurring as the kite-flying season peaks. Citizens are now demanding stricter enforcement, with some calling for the use of drones to monitor kite-flying in restricted zones and others suggesting that parents should be held legally accountable if their children are found using prohibited strings.

Celebration Without Risk: A Final Plea

The incident serves as a vital reminder that “celebrations should never put lives at risk.” While Makar Sankranti is a festival of joy and harvest, the use of lethal materials turns it into a recurring tragedy for commuters and wildlife alike. Tanya Poddar has urged her followers to share her story not for fame, but to ensure that another family doesn’t have to face a similar nightmare. As the skies fill with color this January, the focus remains on whether the “fear barrier” of legal action will finally be enough to stop the use of these deadly threads.