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.
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.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Despite the fact that men take significantly fewer pictures of themselves than women, they make up 73 per cent of all selfie-related deaths.
-
Political cartoons for December 13Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include saving healthcare, the affordability crisis, and more
-
Farage’s £9m windfall: will it smooth his path to power?In Depth The record donation has come amidst rumours of collaboration with the Conservatives and allegations of racism in Farage's school days
-
The issue dividing Israel: ultra-Orthodox draft dodgersIn the Spotlight A new bill has solidified the community’s ‘draft evasion’ stance, with this issue becoming the country’s ‘greatest internal security threat’
-
Femicide: Italy’s newest crimeThe Explainer Landmark law to criminalise murder of a woman as an ‘act of hatred’ or ‘subjugation’ but critics say Italy is still deeply patriarchal
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
-
Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted