Ahead of Makar Sankranti, Surat Police Distribute Safety Gear to Protect Bikers From Dangerous ‘Manjha’

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With Makar Sankranti just around the corner and the season for flying kites in full swing, the streets of Surat are seeing the positive impact of a well-thought-out and proactive move by the police department in the city. The Surat Traffic Police have taken the initiative to ensure the safety of two-wheeler riders from the sharp and invisible danger posed by the kite strings (manjha) in the city.

The Hidden Risk Behind a Festive Tradition

Photo Credit: Boldsky

Makar Sankranti, commonly known in India as the Harvest Festival and in Gujarat as 'Uttarayan', is inextricably linked in the country's collective memory to colourful kites filling the sky. There is, however, another aspect of this festivity that has come to the fore in the last few years, and that is the highly injurious kite strings that can lacerate people on motorbikes and scooters to the extent of killing them. These strings, especially those coated with glass or made from synthetic materials, are notoriously hard to spot and can slice through skin in an instant.

Neck Collars and Bike Guards: How the Safety Drive Works

To tackle this risk head-on, Surat police officers have taken a hands-on approach rather than just issuing warnings. In multiple locations across the city, officers are distributing protective neck collars to passing bikers as well as installing metal safety guards on two-wheelers. Videos shared by the department show riders being stopped, advised about the risks, and personally fitted with these safety devices.

Why These Safety Measures Matter

The neck collars protect the area around the neck since they act as a barrier against the effect of the string that might come into contact with the rider. Furthermore, the "U-guard", composed of some form of metal placed above the handlebars, prevents the string from passing through the area where the head is to get entangled.

A Clear Message From Surat Police

In the videos posted on the social media pages of the Surat Police, the message from the campaign is clear: "Safety is not expensive, life is priceless. Wear a neck belt, because someone at home is waiting for you." The police are also seen in the videos asking delivery boys from Zomato and Blinkit to be extra cautious about their safety.

Part of a Larger Crackdown on Hazardous Manjha

The initiative comes against the backdrop of numerous past incidents where riders suffered grievous injuries from manjha, prompting authorities to clamp down on the sale and use of hazardous kite strings across Gujarat. In fact, recent enforcement efforts in major cities have targeted illegal and synthetic manjha as part of a broader safety push ahead of Uttarayan.

City residents and social media users have largely welcomed the move, applauding the police for going beyond routine advisories to take tangible steps that could save lives during one of the year's most beloved festivals.

As Uttarayan approaches its peak day on January 14, the combination of protective gear distribution, public awareness, and tighter enforcement hopes to ensure that kite flying remains a joyous tradition, without turning the roads of Surat into danger zones.