Although Sankranti is still more than 40 days away, manja-related injuries have already started surfacing in the city. One such alarming incident involved Karthik, a software engineer from Gurramguda, who was riding his bike with his fiancée towards Nagole when a stray manja string suddenly tightened around his neck. Before he could react, the sharp, glass-coated thread sliced through his skin. A passerby noticed the profuse bleeding and immediately rushed him to Kamineni Hospital. Consultant Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgeon Dr. Rishith Battini, who treated him, described the severity of the injury.
Severe Neck Injuries Despite Helmet Protection
Karthik was riding over the Kamineni flyover when the loose manja string wrapped around his neck. Despite wearing a helmet, the exposed portion of his neck sustained deep cuts. The impact tore through his neck muscles and severed the upper blood vessels. Fortunately, the major vessels and airway remained intact, preventing a potentially fatal outcome. However, heavy bleeding had already begun by the time he reached the hospital.
Timely Surgery Saves the Patient
As per the press release, Dr. Rishith explained, “When he arrived at the emergency room, we prioritised controlling the bleeding, but the initial attempt was insufficient. We immediately shifted him to surgery. Within 30 minutes, we began the procedure, successfully reattaching the severed blood vessels and repairing the muscle. He also had cuts on his fingers from trying to remove the manja. His fiancée, who was riding pillion, suffered minor injuries near her neck and eye.”
He also warned that although Sankranti is weeks away, people have already started flying kites. As kites fall, glass-coated manja drifts unpredictably, posing serious risks to commuters. “Glass-coated manja is extremely dangerous. Authorities must enforce strict control right away, or more life-threatening incidents are likely,” he said. Junior Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. Syed Mazhar Ali, Chief Cardiac Anaesthetist Dr. Suresh Kumar, and Consultant Anaesthetist Dr. Ravali Sade assisted in the surgery.
A Silent Rescuer: Help Arrives Just in Time
In a remarkable turn, Karthik later discovered that the person who rescued him was actually a doctor from Kamineni Hospital.
Sharing his experience, he said, “I was riding at barely 40 kmph when I felt a sharp cut on my neck. When I put my hand inside the helmet, I found the manja stuck there. It had also cut my fingers. I pulled over immediately. When I touched my neck, my hand was full of blood. A doctor passing by saw me, gave me his handkerchief to press the wound, and tried stopping several autos, but none agreed. So he took me to Kamineni Hospital on his own bike. Only later did I realise he worked there. If such accidents are happening even before Sankranti, it’s extremely dangerous for everyone on the roads.”