Wishing safe Makar Sankranti Festival to its 30 lacs power consumers and the citizens of Mumbai, Adani Electricity Mumbai Ltd (AEML), hereby cautions kite flyers to stay away and refrain themselves from flying kites near the high tension overhead power transmission lines.
AEML is issuing this cautionary advice from the safety point of view, as kite flying near overhead power transmission lines may prove not only life threatening and property damaging but also put the city at risk of going dark if the power grid is damaged.
The festival of Makar Sankranti falls on the 15th of January this year and is celebrated with people coming together to fly kites. The tradition of kite flying is for a healthy exposure in the early morning Sun. These initial rays are healthy and a good source of Vitamin D. It is also considered to be good for skin and helps in fighting many infections and sickness caused by the chilly winter winds. Hence, people in large number are seen outdoors flying kites.
Therefore, it is imperative to understand and take note of the vital fact that the special threads used for kite flying, popularly known as ‘Manja’, is a good conductor of electricity, especially when the metal powder is used as one of the ingredients for coating.
The ‘Manja’ can transmit very high voltage power of even 220000 Volts; if it touches the overhead live wires or even enters the arching zone.
Speaking on the safety precautions, AEML spokesperson said, “This may cause not only interruptions in power supply due to short circuiting but also lead to severe injuries, fatalities or incidences of major breakdowns of transmission lines resulting even in the grid failure.”
The spokesperson further added, ”AMEL, therefore, advises consumers and kite flyers near the areas of Versova, Oshiwara, eastern parts of Northern Suburbs, viz., Goregaon, Malad, Kandivali and Borivali as well as other areas where the high voltage overhead transmission line network exists, to avoid kite flying near overhead power transmission lines.”
AEML appeals to the consumers and citizens in these areas that if they notice or come to know of any untoward incidences as a result of the unsafe kite flying near transmission lines, the same may please be reported immediately on AEML’s dedicated Power Help Line 19122 so as to enable the utility to initiate further necessary action.
