The kite-flying tradition on Makar Sankranti today proved fatal for a 10-year-old girl, who died after her throat was slit by a sharp kite-string outside her house in Tonk Road area here.

Chanchal was rushed to hospital bleeding profusely and she was declared brought dead by the emergency unit doctors, SMS Hospital Additional Superintendent Dr Ajit Singh told PTI.

Thousands of birds die during kite festivals as the 'manjha' (string) of kites is often coated with glass pieces to enable kite-fliers to cut each others' kites.

Sanjeev Sankhla, who rescues birds, said over a dozen birds were rescued and treated in the morning hours in the Pink city.