Lucknow Surgeons Save Woman’s Foot From Near Amputation After Horrific Kite String

Lucknow : In a terrifying reminder of the dangers lurking on city roads, a 35-year-old woman narrowly escaped losing her right foot after it was nearly severed by a stray kite string. The complex, high-stakes surgery performed by plastic surgeons in Lucknow successfully salvaged the limb, saving her from permanent disability.

The incident occurred when the victim was riding pillion on a motorcycle driven by her husband. As they traveled through Lucknow, a stray, high-tension kite string—popularly known as manja—became entangled around her right foot. Before the vehicle could slow down, the friction and tension of the sharp string cut deep into her leg, inflicting severe lacerations.

The high-velocity impact sliced through critical neurovascular structures (the intricate network of nerves and blood vessels that supply life and movement to the extremity). With blood flow compromised and major tissues shredded, the woman was rushed to Medanta Hospital Lucknow in critical condition, facing immediate threat of limb loss.

A specialized surgical team, led by Dr. Nikhil Puri (Director of Plastic Surgery) and Dr. Ashish Ukey (Senior Consultant), immediately rolled the patient into a marathon reconstructive operation.

"Such extensive limb damage due to kite string is uncommon," noted Dr. Nikhil Puri. "Kite string accidents traditionally involve the neck or upper torso, which frequently turn fatal. In this case, the foot's neurovascular bundle was badly compromised. Restoring immediate blood flow while reconstructing shredded tissue made this an incredibly challenging limb salvage case."

Through microvascular surgery, the team successfully reconnected the severed blood vessels, re-established vital circulation, and repaired the damaged nerves. Following the prolonged procedure, the foot was declared saved. The patient remains under close medical monitoring and is expected to undergo an extensive rehabilitation process.

The horrifying mishap has renewed public outrage over the persistent use of banned synthetic manja. Despite a formal ban, these illegal strings—frequently reinforced with nylon and coated with pulverized glass or metallic dust—are still sold covertly. Designed to cut opponents' lines during kite fights, they act as invisible, razor-sharp wires capable of cutting through human flesh, impacting two-wheeler riders, pedestrians, and low-flying birds alike.

In response to the incident, the Uttar Pradesh government has intensified its statewide enforcement campaign to entirely eliminate the supply chain of illegal Chinese manja. Authorities are urging the public to switch exclusively to cotton threads, report underground sellers, and recognize that community vigilance is paramount to keeping city streets safe.