India, Aug. 12 -- With kite flying expected to increase ahead of Independence Day, power distribution companies on Tuesday issued safety advisories urging residents to avoid using metal-coated or glass-powder-coated strings (manjha) and to stay away from overhead power lines.

According to the advisory by BSES and Tata Power-DDL, if glass/metal-coated strings come in contact with power lines, it can result in electric shocks, electrocution, damage to electrical equipment, and disruption of power supply.

BSES which supplies electricity to more than 5.44 million consumers across south, east, west, and central Delhi, said that the tripping of a single 33/66 kV overhead line can disrupt electricity supply to more than 10,000 residents, and a...