Bengaluru: The State Tourism Department will soon put up ‘selfie danger zone’ boards at all its important tourist destinations following an advisory from the Union Government on Wednesday in the wake of several deaths reported while taking selfies.
Minister for IT/BT and Tourism Priyank Kharge told Deccan Chronicle that his department would put up proper signages along with the existing warning boards, marking all such areas and zones as 'selfie danger zones'. “I will instruct the officials concerned to put these signages at places where there is any danger for any misadventure.”
He said it was very difficult to ban taking selfies as the department cannot put up its watch and ward staff 24 X 7 to prevent tourists from taking selfies at the cliffs, mountains and rivers with heavy current. It was difficult to keep a track of youngsters who in the name of adventure risk their lives. “Smart people with the smartphones have to be smart enough not to risk their lives just for the sake of selfies for social media,” the minister said.
Mr Priyank said he had heard from his department officials about youths going for swimming in Cauvery river at Mutthatthi in Mandya district, where the current is very strong. Over 100 people drown at the same spot every year despite presence of ‘no swimming’ signages in the area.
Similarly youths trekking mountains also take selfies and many times it had resulted in fatal accidents. “At the most, we can advise tourists not to indulge in any misadventure risking their lives. Ultimately, it is up to them to be within their limits. If at all you want to take selfies, buy the selfie sticks and take the pictures from the safe distance,” he noted.
The minister observed that on Wednesday he saw a group of youths taking selfies right in the middle of River Cauvery in Srirangapatna by standing on the small boulder. One step here or there could result in an accident, he added.
Though, tourist places were managed by his department, the security in the area is the responsibility of the police department. However, the tourism department will identify selfie danger zones and put up the signages accordingly.
