Are you a selfie fanatic? You might be punished for doing that now in this district in Gujarat. The Dang district in Gujarat has declared clicking selfies as a criminal office. But why have the authorities taken such a step? The Dang district, which is famous for its stunning Saputara hill station and cascading waterfalls, has witnessed many selfie-related accidents in the past. To ensure that such accidents are not repeated, the district has now strictly prohibited taking selfies, especially in tourist spots.
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The District Witnessed Fatal Selfie-Related Accidents In The Past
Many selfie-related accidents had taken place in the Dang district in the past. In July 2018, a man lost his life by falling into a gorge in Saputara while taking a selfie. In August 2018, a person drowned in the nearby Gira waterfall while trying to take a selfie. A woman slipped while taking a selfie and survived by falling into bushes in the same year. A study by the US National Library of Medicine has revealed that 259 people died while taking selfies between 2011 and 2017, and 50% of them were from India. Considering the risks, the district has imposed the bans.
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People Taking Selfies In Dang District Could Face Criminal Offence
According to a Live Mint report, the district’s resident additional collector T D Damor told PTI that people caught taking selfies in Dang could face actions under criminal offence provisions. He said, “People, especially youngsters, in their attempt to click a good selfie, can go to any extent and harm themselves. Many cases of people falling into gorge or being swept away in water current were recorded in the past. In some cases, people also died while many got injured.” While this step by the authorities looks justified, we must be cautious while taking selfies even in the restriction-free zones to prevent any related accidents.