Chinese 'Manjha' Causes Power Outages During Independence Day Celebrations

Thousands faced power outages in the city as over 50 incidents of power line tripping due to the use of metal-coated Chinese 'manjha' occurred during Independence Day kite flying celebrations. Discoms urged responsible kite flying and started awareness campaigns to mitigate risks associated with metallic kite string.

Thousands of residents across the city experienced power outages following over 50 cases of power transmission line tripping due to the use of Chinese 'manjha' during Independence Day kite flying celebrations, officials confirmed on Friday.

The majority of these incidents occurred in north Delhi, according to discom officials. Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) noted no kite-related tripping at the sub transmission level, but reported 49 incidents at the 11kv level, affecting approximately 25,000 customers, said a discom spokesperson.

The discoms have been actively promoting responsible kite flying. A special safety advisory video discouraged flying kites near electrical installations and warned against using metallic manjha. BRPL and BYPL also reported six trippings each, as stated by a BSES spokesperson. The BSES has launched a comprehensive campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of flying kites near electrical installations through social media, interactions with Resident Welfare Associations, and newsletters.

(With inputs from agencies.)