LAHORE: Basant festival celebrations resumed in Lahore on Friday after an 18-year break. However, six people have been injured in kite string accidents so far. The Punjab government lifted the kite flying ban last December with strict safety rules. The festival will continue until February 8. The first injury was to a 21-year-old man in Defence Housing Authority (DHA). He was riding a bike when a kite string wrapped around his neck, causing deep wounds. Police said the man was not using a safety rod on his bike, which is required to protect riders from kite strings. Rescue 1122 treated him at the scene and took him to hospital for surgery. He is now stable. Authorities are investigating the incident and the kite string quality. In another case, a 45-year-old man riding a bike was cut on the face and neck by a kite string. He was also taken to a hospital. Police warned bikers that riding without protective wires violates safety rules and may lead to legal action. An eight-year-old girl in Lahore’s Gulshan-e-Ravi area suffered throat injuries from a kite string. Two other young people were hurt in separate kite string accidents. Another man fell from his roof in Ravi Road and was seriously injured. Basant Panchami marks the fifth day of the lunar month Magh and celebrates spring, good luck, and future crop prosperity. Under the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Ordinance 2025, only thread-based kite strings are allowed. Metallic, chemical-coated, and sharp kite strings are banned to reduce injuries.