Kite festival leaves 'at least 11 dead'

An annual kite festival in Pakistan has resulted in the deaths of at least 11 people, with over 100 more left injured, reports the Associated Press (AP).

A ban on kite flying was lifted for the event, after authorities took action following deaths at last year's festival. The news agency reports that the ban has now been re-imposed, according to Lahore Mayor Mian Amier Mahmood.

The deaths were caused by stray bullets and sharpened kite strings, as well as an electrocution and people falling from rooftops, Ruqia Bano, a spokeswoman for the emergency services in the city of Lahore, told AP.

Gunshots are often fired into the air and kite strings are strengthened in order to cut other wires or damage a competitor's kite.

However, a 16-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy were killed when their throats were cut by the sharpened wires in two separate incidents, Mr Bano told AP.

Police have since arrested more than 700 people for using sharpened kite strings or firing guns, according to Aftab Cheema, a Lahore police officer, who also spoke to AP.