News & Politics - 7 dead in kite-flying festival

JediBlastoise · 07-16-2004, 12:12 AM

http://news.com.au/common/story_page...5E1702,00.html

i know this is tragic, but i can't help laughing at this. does that make me a bad person?

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Seven dead at kite-flying festival
From correspondents in Lahore

SEVEN people were killed and more than 100 injured in Pakistan during the annual kite flying festival marking the arrival of spring, officials said today.

An 18-month-old girl's throat was cut by a stray kite string while she was travelling with her parents on a motorbike, witnesses said, adding that she died on the spot.

Three people were electrocuted when metal wires they were using to fly or catch stray kites fell on live electric lines, and two people fell from roofs, hospital officials said.

A 12-year-old boy died while trying to catch a stray kite when he was hit by a car on a main road, police said.

More than 100 people had been reported injured since last night in various kite-related accidents, medical workers said.

Officials at Lahore's Mayo Hospital said 42 children and 60 adults had been treated for injuries.

"One child was injured by a stray bullet," deputy medical superintendent Dr Saqib Shafi told AFP.

Though firing guns is banned, people celebrate the spring festival by firing into the air, often causing casualties.

Relatives of people killed or injured in kite flying accidents held a demonstration in Lahore last year urging the government to maintain its ban on selling and flying kites.

More than 20 people have been killed in kite flying accidents in Lahore since last year's spring festival.

Casualties and frequent power outages caused by metal wires falling over power lines forced the government to ban the sale of kites and metal wire, but those restrictions were lifted this month to celebrate the festival, officials said.

Agence France-Presse

Cantbehrit · 07-16-2004, 06:28 AM

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An 18-month-old girl's throat was cut by a stray kite string while she was travelling with her parents on a motorbike, witnesses said, adding that she died on the spot.

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Three people were electrocuted when metal wires they were using to fly or catch stray kites fell on live electric lines, and two people fell from roofs, hospital officials said.

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A 12 year old boy died while trying to catch a stray kite when he was hit by a car on a main road, police said.

Yeah...I couldn't help laughing either...

Cantbehrit

Anabela · 07-16-2004, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JediBlastoise
i know this is tragic, but i can't help laughing at this. does that make me a bad person?

Yes, I'll say it does make you a bad person. But that's just my opinion.

sick little jag · 07-16-2004, 04:29 PM

it's more like...i'm laughing at this incredulously. because it's like...these are the kind of things that take common sense to avoid. not to say they are stupid...but. jesus.

The Happy Psycho · 07-16-2004, 05:13 PM

Oh yes, young children dying always makes me laugh.

AsnoCaliente · 07-16-2004, 05:44 PM

I'm ashamed to say that I laughed too. And I think it's pretty safe to say that most of us are heading straight for hell. Oh well.

Timeo · 07-16-2004, 06:47 PM

Can't say these are in any way amusing. Death is death, and shouldn't really be laughed at...though the way that these people died are a little more...interesting than normal circumstances.

*Lauren · 07-16-2004, 08:33 PM

I had a chuckle at first, but then I felt bad straight away. Putting a laughing smilie straight after a part about a little girl dying, well that's just sick and evil.

migamoo · 07-16-2004, 09:14 PM

that is extremely sad. weird, because i mean, it's a kite festival. who would have thought something like that could happen, but sad all the same.

Ashley

Phébé la Frenchie · 07-17-2004, 12:13 AM

The kite aspect is funny, the death aspect... no way.

Cantbehrit · 07-17-2004, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by *Lauren
I had a chuckle at first, but then I felt bad straight away. Putting a laughing smilie straight after a part about a little girl dying, well that's just sick and evil.

Its called sarcasim...and being sick and evil is exactly the point...to have a laugh after you read "an 18 month old's throat slashed" is sick and evil...the smilie was to show just HOW sick it would be to laugh.

Cantbehit

Roswellgirl1001 · 07-18-2004, 07:28 AM

I'm going to say that this is absolutely horrible. I know someone who had her throat slashed during kite flying season when she was in India. The strings on the kite are made with little pieces of ground up glass all along them. This is part of the game, and you're supposed to use your kite and wrap it around someone else's string and cut off their kite. All the kites that you chop off are yours. But these strings really are dangerous, and after all these accidents, I guess they're still not ready to let go of tradition.

The other accidents are just bizarre, however....


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