From correspondents in Rajasthan, India, 09:31 AM IST

With Jaipur all set to celebrate Makar Sankranti this weekend, an NGO is quietly making preparations to treat birds that might be injured in the frenzied daylong kite flying.

'Every year a number of birds are injured due to kites and manjas (fortified threads used to fly kites). Many injured birds die in the absence of any treatment,' said Minal Sahni, manager (operations) of Help in Suffering, an NGO.

'To save these creatures, we have constituted 10 mobile teams to provide immediate treatment to them,' Sahni told IANS.

Makar Sanranti, which marks the transit of the sun to the northern hemisphere Jan 14, is celebrated in many parts of north India with kite flying.

The mobile teams, comprising ambulances for big animals as well as two-wheelers meant for birds, would have trained volunteers and medicines. They would set out to provide prompt treatment to the needy birds as soon as information is received from any part of the city.

After initial treatment, the injured bird would be taken to a hospital. Once out of danger, the birds would be set free in their surroundings, Sahni added.

Among birds, pigeons are especially prone to injuries as they are relatively heavy and their habitat is always in the vicinity of the human population.

Special cages have been built for the injured birds, Sahni said.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)