Mumbai imposes 'no selfie' zones after fatal accidents
India has highest rate of deaths linked to people taking self-portraits, with tourist spots a particular hazard
Police in Mumbai have banned people from taking pictures of themselves in parts of the city deemed to be dangerous after an alarming number of selfie-related deaths.
Sixteen "no selfie" zones face are now in action across the Indian city and anyone found taking a self-portrait in them will be slapped with a fine of 1,200 rupees (about £12.50), the Associated Press reports.
The areas identified as being potentially dangerous include parts of the coastline without barriers or railings and popular tourist attractions, such as the Marine Drive promenade.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
However, it does not look as if the ban is having an effect. "Despite clearly marked signs demarking the selfie-free zones, people can still be seen clicking away, and often going to the edges or standing on ledges to get the most thrilling shots," says AP.
India is home to the most number of people who have died taking selfies, according to a study by the data service provider Priceonomics.
"The stories are bountiful, and tragic and often involve large groups of teenagers," the company says.
Earlier this month, an 18-year old student drowned after falling off a rock near a dam in the city of Nashik during a class picnic, while in January, another teenager drowned at the popular Bandstand Fort.
Despite the fact that men take significantly fewer pictures of themselves than women, they make up 73 per cent of all selfie-related deaths.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
You Are Here: the new David Nicholls 'past-their-prime' romance
The Week Recommends 'Midlife disenchantment' gives way to romance for two walkers on a cross-country hike
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
The new powers to stop stalking in the UK
The Explainer Updated guidance could help protect more victims, but public is losing trust in police and battered criminal justice system
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Criminal trail?'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
How technology helps and harms endangered languages
Under the radar Languages are disappearing at fastest rate in history, accelerated by digital dominance of English
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Spain spends €258m on trains too big for tunnels
feature And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
Animal shelter will name cat litter tray after your ex
feature And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
‘Unsettling’ bid to bring dodo back to life
feature And other stories from the stranger side of life
By The Week Staff Published
-
Your LinkedIn contact could be a deepfake
feature And other stories from the stranger side of life
By The Week Staff Published
-
AI beats humans at bridge
feature And other stories from the stranger side of life
By The Week Staff Published
-
Who masterminded largest-ever cyberattack on Israel?
Under the Radar Defence officials point finger at Iran after government websites knocked offline
By The Week Staff Published
-
‘It is the internet’: Rohingya launch $150bn Facebook lawsuit over genocide hate speech
In Depth Victims in UK and US legal action claim social media giant failed to prevent incitement of violence
By The Week Staff Published