LAHORE – The revival of the historic Basant Festival in Lahore has been marred by tragedy, as kite-flying and kite-chasing incidents claimed one life and left five others injured across the city.
One Fatality and Multiple Injuries Reported
The most severe incident occurred in the Baghbanpura area near the Sikh Canal. According to rescue sources, 25-year-old Ali Rashid was electrocuted after climbing an electricity pole in an attempt to retrieve a stray kite. The high-voltage shock proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The “bloody sport” also caused several injuries due to the use of banned sharp strings:
DHA Phase 5: A young man named Rafe sustained a severe neck injury after being struck by a kite string while riding his motorcycle.
Gulshan-e-Ravi: Two individuals, 8-year-old Irsa and 45-year-old Shabbir, were injured in separate incidents involving stray kite strings.
Lower Mall: 12-year-old Abdul Wahid was injured while chasing a kite.
Gulshan-e-Ravi (Second Incident): 14-year-old Salman fell from a tree while trying to untangle a kite, resulting in multiple injuries.
Basant Returns After Long Ban
The 2026 Basant Festival marks a significant cultural return for Lahore after nearly two decades of restrictions. The festivities were officially inaugurated at midnight by Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari, who performed a ceremonial kite-flying to kick off the three-day event.
While the government had promised a “Safe Basant” with strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)—including the use of cotton strings and drone monitoring—these early casualties have sparked renewed concerns regarding public safety and the enforcement of the ban on chemical-coated and metallic strings.
“The use of prohibited and dangerous kite strings must not be allowed to turn a festival of happiness into a tragedy,” Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had earlier warned during the festival’s preparations.