To combat soaring selfie deaths, Mumbai is creating no-selfie zones

Death-by-selfie is an especially embarrassing and tragic way to go, but it is becoming less and less unusual as people seek out extreme and clever shots without paying attention to their surroundings. Mumbai, India, is the selfie-death capitol of the planet, with 19 of the world's 49 selfie-linked deaths having occurred within its limits since 2014, The Associated Press reports. Not coincidentally, Mumbai is also one of the world's largest cities, with nearly 12 million citizens and a rapidly expanding smartphone market.

Selfie deaths most often occur when people fall off ledges or cliffs while taking their own photos. Earlier this month, a college student lost his balance in the Indian city of Nashik while taking a selfie on a rock near a dam. He tumbled into the water and drowned, along with another student who dove into the water in an attempt to save him.

In order to prevent further loss of lives, Mumbai is creating 16 "no-selfie zones" throughout the city. The locations all tend to be risky picture-perfect locations, such as spots along the coast where there is no railing. Getting caught in the off-limits areas results in a 1,200 rupee fine, or about $18.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

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.

Sign up

The city also plans to launch an awareness campaign, the message of which can only be: Impressing your friends with a cool selfie on Facebook is definitely not worth losing your life over.