As the Basant festivities progress in Lahore, two deaths and many injuries have been reported by the rescue teams deployed across the city. According to ARY News, an 18-year-old boy, Zain, lost his life after a rooftop fall in Madina Colony, Baghbanpura area. The deceased fell from a rooftop in a kite-chasing accident and lost his life on the spot. Three more were reported injured from electric shocks while flying kites. Members of the same family, three men, a father, his uncle and nephew, were moved to the hospital and are now out of danger.
Geo News reported the death of a 25-year-old, Ali Rasheed, who lost his life from electrocution while retrieving a stray kite from an electric pole in Sikh Canal in Baghbanpura. Many injuries were reported after a kite string became entangled. This included 45-year-old Shabbir, 8-year-old Irsa from the Gulshan-e-Ravi area, and Rafay from DHA Phase 5. More minors included 12-year-old Abdul Wahid and 14-year-old Salman, who were injured while retrieving stray kites in the Lower Mall area.
The Basant festival has been revived after a 25-year ban, and the government has been taking precautions to prevent unforeseen incidents. The festival was inaugurated by the Punjab Information Minister, Uzma Bukhari, at midnight on February 5. She flew a kite, and the city saw a fireworks spectacle.
