The sharp, glass-coated string, commonly used during Makar Sankranti, poses a serious threat to avian life. Birds often become entangled mid-air, suffering deep cuts to their wings, necks, and vital organs, leading to severe injuries and death.

The festival, locally celebrated as Sankranti Samburulu, coincides with the peak migratory season, when thousands of resident and migratory birds flock to the region, making the impact even more devastating.

Animal rescue organisations are struggling to cope with the surge in injured birds. NGOs like Animal Warriors work round the clock to rescue, treat, and rehabilitate affected birds, but the injuries caused by Chinese manjha are often fatal.

According to Santhoshi, Co-founder, Animal Warriors: "We used to get 50 plus more birds in two weeks, and in a month more than 150 birds. This was the major count last year...we have rescued them. In that, more than 40 to 50 birds don't survive. The criticality is more, they have serious injuries, they get slit – loss of blood, and by the time they reach our rescue centre, they reach our helpline number, it takes time, so the casualties are more this time."

Veterinarians say survival largely depends on the severity of injuries, with many birds collapsing even before they can be treated.

Meanwhile, Veterinarian Vishwa Chaitanya says,”The success rate of recovery depends on the injury. Most of the birds, they collapse halfway through the rescue itself, because of severe bleeding or else head injuries or when a wing is cut. Just imagine half of our hand is cut, and severe bleeding will be there, and they undergo shock and when we are holding a wild bird, they undergo again a lot of stress due to handling it. Due to Chinese manjha so many birds in our area, they are losing their wings and their lives."

Activists claim that despite the dire circumstances, public awareness has increased, resulting in quicker reporting of injured birds and rescues.

Additionally, it seems that authorities are increasing their enforcement of the prohibited string.

"The success rate of recovery depends on the injury. Most of the birds, they collapse halfway through the rescue itself, because of severe bleeding or else head injuries or when a wing is cut. Just imagine half of our hand is cut, and severe bleeding will be there, and they undergo shock and when we are holding a wild bird, they undergo again a lot of stress due to handling it. Due to Chinese manjha so many birds in our area, they are losing their wings and their lives", said Pradeep Nair, Founder of Animal Warriors.

Animal advocates are still optimistic that Hyderabad's delicate and valuable bird population will be protected by tougher regulations and responsible kite flying—using bird-safe substitutes.