At least 11 people were killed and more than 100 people injured by sharpened kite strings, stray bullets and other accidents at an annual kite-flying festival in eastern Pakistan.
The two-day Basant festival is regularly marred by casualties caused by sharpened kite strings or celebratory gunshots fired into the air. Kite fliers often use strings made of wire or coated with ground glass to try to damage a rival's kite, often after betting on the outcome.
Authorities had banned kite flying following a number of deaths at the festival last year but temporarily lifted it before this year's event. Officials said the ban was reimposed following the latest deaths.
Police arrested more than 700 people for using sharpened kite strings or firing guns, and seized nearly 300 illegal weapons during this year's festival, said a Lahore police officer.
Five of those who died Sunday were hit by stray bullets, including a six-year-old boy.
A 16-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy died after their throats were slashed by metal kite strings in separate incidents. Two people were electrocuted as they tried to recover kites tangled in overhead power cables, and two people fell from roofs.
AP