As Bhopal residents eagerly prepare to celebrate the New Year and the upcoming festival of Makar Sankranti, a familiar but dangerous shadow looms over the colourful tradition of kite flying. Power transmission authorities have issued a stern warning: the festive joy, particularly from kites flown with banned Chinese 'manjha', could once again plunge large parts of the city into darkness and even claim lives.
The Invisible Danger in the Sky
Over the past year alone, the use of prohibited Chinese manjha has escalated into a severe threat to Bhopal's critical high-voltage electricity network. Officials from the Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company (MP Transco) report that at least four critical transmission lines in the Bhopal region suffered disturbances due to this hazardous string becoming entangled with live wires.
The core of the danger lies in the string's composition. Chinese manjha is coated with a metallic layer, which transforms a simple kite string into a highly efficient conductor of electricity. When this coated string makes contact with extra high-voltage lines—which carry 220 kV or 132 kV of power—it can trigger instantaneous and violent electrical faults.
Past Incidents and Widespread Impact
The previous festive season provided a grim preview of the potential chaos. Two separate 132 kV transmission lines tripped and failed after metallic kite strings brushed against their live conductors. These incidents resulted in significant power outages across several neighbourhoods, disrupting the electricity supply for thousands of homes and businesses in the capital.
The consequences of such contact are severe and multi-fold. They cause flashovers, create short-circuit conditions, and force protective systems to trip the lines, cutting off power. Beyond the blackouts, the electrical surges can damage sensitive and expensive grid equipment like insulators and jumpers. Most alarmingly, MP Transco officials emphasize that these events pose a direct, lethal risk to individuals flying kites or standing in the vicinity, as the conductive string can electrify and cause fatal electrocution.
High-Risk Zones Identified Across Bhopal
MP Transco has pinpointed specific transmission corridors and adjoining localities that are exceptionally vulnerable. Key power lines under threat include the 220 kV Sukhi Sewania–Bhopal line and the 132 kV MACT–Mandideep and Bhopal–Lalghati lines.
The company has flagged several residential and industrial areas as sensitive zones where kite flying near these power corridors presents an extreme hazard. Citizens in the following localities are urged to exercise utmost caution:
- Kaliyashot
- Anand Nagar
- Govindpura Industrial Area
- Karond
- Ratanpur
- Devki Nagar
- Nariyal Kheda
Awareness Drive Before the Festive Peak
With kite flying activity expected to surge during Makar Sankranti, MP Transco is launching a special city-wide awareness campaign. The drive aims to educate the public about the grave dangers of using Chinese manjha and flying kites near overhead power lines.
"Even a small lapse can lead to major accidents and large-scale disruption of power supply," cautioned Ravi Chourasia, Executive Engineer at MP Transco, Bhopal. The campaign's central message is a plea for citizen cooperation: to enjoy the festivities responsibly by avoiding banned strings and maintaining a safe distance from the transmission network, thereby ensuring a safe and uninterrupted celebration for all.
