A tragic accident took place in Talmadgi village, Bidar district, where Sanjukumar Gundappa Hosamani, 48, died after a kite string (manja) slashed his throat. The incident happened on Wednesday near a bridge while Hosamani was riding his motorcycle to Humnabad town to pick up his daughter for the Sankranti holiday from her residential school. The sharp glass-coated kite string got entangled around his neck, causing a deep cut and severe bleeding. He fell from the bike and died on the spot before help could reach him. The banned Chinese manja remains widely used during the Sankranti festival in the Humnabad and Chitaguppa areas, especially for kite-flying competitions. Hosamani is survived by his wife, a son, and three daughters.