Lahore's Basant Festival Faces Legal Scrutiny After Fatalities

Feb 25, 2026

69 min

Feb 25, 2026 12:31

Basant revival under court scrutiny as 17 die in Lahore celebrations

## Revival and Tragedy

Lahore's Basant festival, a historic kite-flying event, was revived this year after an 18-year ban. Held from February 6 to 8, the festival resulted in 17 fatalities, prompting the Punjab home department to report these figures to the Lahore High Court (LHC).

## Safety Concerns

The festival's return was marked by the Punjab government's introduction of the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Ordinance 2025, which aimed to ensure safety. Despite these measures, over 100 accidents were reported during the celebrations. The court is now examining the effectiveness of these regulations.

## Causes of Fatalities

The majority of the deaths were due to falls from rooftops, with 12 people losing their lives this way. Other causes included electrocution and falls from trees. The court has also requested data on injuries caused by kite strings, a known hazard associated with the festival.

## Historical Context

Basant was banned in 2007 due to the dangers posed by sharp and metallic kite strings, which often resulted in fatal injuries. The revival this year included regulations prohibiting such strings and designating specific kite-flying zones in Lahore.

## Ongoing Legal Review

The LHC continues to scrutinize the implementation of the new safety measures, as the petitioner’s counsel noted that some requested information had not been provided. The court's review aims to assess whether the new regulations can prevent future tragedies.

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