Camps set to help injured birds during kite festival

Surat, Jan 15 (ANI): Social workers have set camps across India to save birds that are injured during the kite flying season. Many birds are injured or killed during the harvest festival of Makar Sankranti when colourful kites dot the skylines in various parts of India. Birds get injured after coming in contact with the sharp thread which is a glass-coated string used to fly kites. In Surat, 'Prayas' an organisation working for conservation of nature and protection of environment set up a camp to provide medical aid to the injured birds. A helpline number was also started for the same. In Gujarat, the kite festival is organised ahead of Makar Sankranti. It is known as Uttarayan in the state and celebrated by the flying of kites with great zeal and joy. The trust's president Rohit Gangwal said their aim is to save lives of as many birds possible from the glass-coated thread. At both the camps, rescuers were seen trying to rescue birds covered in blood, mostly pigeons with a cut under the wing, and after assessing them, hurried to an operating table if required.