Boards to warn youth on selfie danger zones' in Kerala

ALAPPUZHA: The state tourism department will soon put up ‘selfie danger zones’ boards at all  important tourist destinations  in an attempt to save the lives of the selfie- obsessed youths. An advisory in this regard was issued by the additional secretary-general, ministry of tourism,  on August 11.  Tourism director U.V. Jose told Deccan Chronicle that many  fatal accidents  had been reported in the state due to the selfie obsession.   

The ‘selfie danger zones’ would be started as soon as  the tourism ministry order was  received, he said and added that Kerala had many dangerous cliffs, mountains and rivers to which tourists were attracted.  The country tops in the number of selfie deaths that have occurred across the world last year.  In separate incidents, two teenagers  lost their lives while attempting selfies near railway tracks in the state.

Last year, a 15-year-old boy from Thrissur  died attempting a selfie in front of a speeding train, while a 14-year-old boy from Palakkad climbed a stationary goods train for a selfie and was electrocuted by  an overhead  electric line.   A youth died while enacting a hanging and trying to capture himself in a video at Kayamkulam here in May 2014. However, it remains to be seen if putting up signages will avert mishaps in future.

The situation is similar to people getting drowned at sea despite ‘no swimmimg’ boards at place. The dangerous beach in Alappuzha has claimed six lives despite the tourism department putting up warning  signs.   Ijas, 15,  from Alappuzha, a class IX student of  Leo XIII HSS,  was swept away by waves while he was bathing with friends here on Sunday last.  His body was traced only on Tuesday. Mr  S. Muraleedharan, a tourism official here,  advised  the tourists to be careful about  selfies. He  added that the ‘selfie danger zones’ would remind them  of the hidden dangers.