Chinese Manjha Poses Renewed Power and Safety Risk as Bhopal Prepares for Kite-Filled Festivals

As Bhopal prepares to ring in the New Year and celebrate Makar Sankranti—festivals traditionally marked by vibrant kite flying—power authorities have issued a fresh warning about the dangers posed by banned Chinese manjha. Officials say the hazardous kite string has repeatedly interfered with high-voltage transmission lines over the past year, triggering power disruptions and raising serious public safety concerns.

A Persistent Threat to the Power Grid

The Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company (MP Transco) has reported multiple incidents in which metallic-coated Chinese manjha became entangled with major transmission corridors in and around the state capital. According to company officials, at least four critical transmission lines in the Bhopal region experienced disturbances in the last year due to kite strings coming into contact with live conductors.

During the previous festive season, two 132 kV lines tripped after conductive strings brushed against high-voltage equipment. These incidents resulted in electricity outages across several neighbourhoods, affecting thousands of households and businesses, MP Transco officials said in internal assessments and public advisories.

Why Chinese Manjha Is Especially Dangerous

Unlike traditional cotton thread, Chinese manjha is coated with metal or abrasive materials. Power engineers explain that this coating allows the string to conduct electricity efficiently. When such a string touches extra high-voltage lines—such as 220 kV or 132 kV systems—it can instantly cause flashovers or short circuits. These events not only interrupt power supply but can also damage costly infrastructure components like insulators and jumpers.

Beyond infrastructure damage, the human cost is a major concern. “Any contact between metallic kite string and live transmission lines can be fatal for kite flyers or bystanders,” a senior transmission engineer noted, adding that even people standing at a distance may be at risk due to electrical arcing.

High-Risk Zones Identified

MP Transco has mapped several vulnerable stretches across the city where kite flying near transmission corridors is particularly risky. These include sections of the 220 kV Sukhi Sewania–Bhopal line and the 132 kV MACT–Mandideep and Bhopal–Lalghati lines. Residential and industrial areas such as Kaliyashot, Anand Nagar, Govindpura Industrial Area, Karond, Ratanpur, Devki Nagar, and Nariyal Kheda have been flagged as sensitive zones.

Officials say these areas combine dense population, open terraces, and proximity to high-voltage infrastructure—factors that significantly increase the likelihood of accidents during peak kite-flying periods.

Awareness Drive Ahead of Makar Sankranti

With kite flying expected to intensify around Makar Sankranti, MP Transco has announced a focused public awareness campaign across Bhopal. The initiative will involve advisories, community outreach, and coordination with local authorities to discourage kite flying near transmission lines and to reinforce the ban on Chinese manjha.

Ravi Chourasia, executive engineer at MP Transco’s Bhopal unit, warned that even minor negligence can have wide-ranging consequences. He said the campaign aims to remind citizens that unsafe kite flying can lead not only to localized accidents but also to large-scale power disruptions affecting hospitals, industries, and essential services.

Balancing Tradition and Safety

Kite flying remains a cherished cultural tradition in central India, symbolising joy and community during winter festivals. However, experts and officials stress that celebrating responsibly is essential. Power authorities and safety advocates alike are urging residents to use only safe, non-conductive kite strings and to keep a safe distance from electrical infrastructure.

As the city looks forward to festive skies filled with colour, officials hope heightened awareness will prevent avoidable accidents—ensuring that celebration does not come at the cost of lives or critical public utilities.