At least two deaths were reported from Maharashtra on Tuesday after their throats were slit by nylon kite strings in separate incidents in Nashik and Akola cities, police told PTI. The victims were identified as Sonu Dhotre and Kiran Sonone.

Dhotre was riding a motorcycle when a nylon manja (string) slit his neck, leaving him seriously injured on Pathardi Phata-Deolali Camp road in Nashik, officials said.

A police team rushed Dhotre to the civil hospital, where he died due to excessive bleeding. He was a contract worker in Gujarat. The officials said that a case of accidental death has been registered.

In Akola, Kiran Sonone, 40, was also riding a two-wheeler on a bypass flyover when he suffered a deep cut on the neck due to the kite string. He was rushed to the district general hospital but succumbed to his injuries, police said.

The Mumbai Police has seized banned nylon string and other material in a special drive over the last four days, an official said.

A total of 19 individuals were either arrested or issued notices under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and the Maharashtra Police Act from January 10 to 13.

Police seized nylon string or Chinese manja and related material worth Rs 35,350 during the crackdown.