Ahmedabad, 16 January, 2014

In recent years, there has been a trend of flying Chinese lanterns in sky on Uttarayan and Vasi Uttarayan evenings. While millions of people enjoy it, and they have made this a part of Uttarayan festivity, there are some concerns about its after-effect. Presented here is the other side picture of Chinese balloons.

Fire at 11 places in Amdavad due to Chinese lanterns

According to Gujarat Samachar report, 11 out of total 12 incidents of fire during two days of kite flying festival were caused by Chinese balloons. Three factories in city’s Kubernagar area witnessed fire at around 6.00 pm due to fall of Chinese baloon. Fire could be controlled only after 9 hours due to efforts by 2 fire fighters and 11 water tankers. Coller assembly factory KD Molders has been totally destroyed due to this incident. Bapunagar based Sureliya estate also suffered fire.

Total five mobile phone towers in Dariapur, Odhav and Khadia area suffered fire due to Chinese balloons.

Fire officers favor ban

According to DNA report, 11 small and big fires caused by Chinese lantern cost city dwellers nearly Rs. 1.4 crore. DNA story quotes additional chief fire officer of Ahmedabad Rajesh Bhatt saying that the biggest of these fires was at a printing press near Bapunagar general hospital, around 8.40 p on Thursday. It engulfed the entire premises causing an estimated damage of Rs 1 crore.

A tree near Kankaria lake besides five residences, open areas, terraces of buildings in the areas including Nirnaynagar and Navrangpura were other places that suffered fire due to Chinese lanterns.

On second kite flying day on 15th January, known as Vaasi Uttarayan, a major fire broke out at Naroda, where over 30,000 kg of cotton was destroyed at Ashok Mill. The damage was estimated at Rs. 1.25 croere according to additional chief fire officer.

According to Chief fire officer MF Dastoor Chinese lanterns are proving to be quite dangerous.

Additional Chief fire officer Rajesh Bhatt said, people here need to know that such lanterns are set off towards the sea in their country of origin, not in the middle of a busy city as in Ahmedabad. These lanterns should be entirely banned.

50 flights delayed due to “Chinese fire bombs rain”

According to the Times of India report, some of the Chinese tukkkals also hovered over the runway at the Sardar Vallabhbhai International airport and delayed 50 flights on Tuesday and Wednesday evening.An operations team inspected the runaway before every take-off and landing. Hundreds of tukkals flying low pose a danger of fire accidents.

The ToI story quotes SpiceJet passenger Amit Banerjee, “our flight was kept hovering over the airport for 15 minutes before landing . The pilot announced that paper kites seems to be more important than aircraft landing.”

So what if police put ban in Vadodara?

Vadodara police had banned Chinese lanterns, and had carried out some raids, but sky was full of them on both evenings of Uttarayan. Not only this but 12 incidents of fire were caused by such lanterns.

Shipment itself should be stopped at port:

Kite shops in Vadodara complained that local, city-wise ban on flying lanterns don’t serve any purpose. If govt is willing to ban this item, it should be banned at the port itself.