Clicking selfie is a criminal offence in this district

Gujarat, June 30: The exponential rise of selfie photography in some of the world’s most beautiful, and dangerous, places is sparking a range of regulations aimed to curb risk-taking that has resulted in a string of deaths all across the planet.

The next time you visit the only hill station of Gujarat, Saputara, or any other tourist spot in the picturesque Dang district, be careful not to click a selfie. If you’re caught taking selfies, you will be committing a crime that will invite police action. Dang has become the first district in the state that has banned the taking of selfies at any place in the district, and especially in tourist spots.

A public notification dated June 23 prohibiting selfies was issued by additional district magistrate T K Damor. It also prohibits locals from entering rivers or any water bodies during the monsoon to wash clothes, bathe, or for other work to prevent accidents. In 2019, the administration had banned the taking of selfies on the Waghai-Saputara highway and at waterfalls.


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With the start of the monsoon, there has been a huge influx of tourists in Dang. While enjoying nature, many acts irresponsibly by taking selfies which lead to accidents that could prove fatal. The notification has been issued to prevent such incidents,” said Damor. The administration noticed that taking selfies was not limited to places of tourist interest but also occurred at places like roads, cliffs, waterfalls, and rivers. “Considering such risky behaviour, prohibitory orders have been issued for the entire district,” Damor added.

After Covid-19 restrictions were lifted, Dang has been witnessing a heavy tourist inflow.

India accounted for half the world’s reported selfie deaths between 2011 and 2017, according to the US National Library of Medicine. In fact, selfies are prohibited in several potentially dangerous areas. But making it a punishable offence in the entire district is bizarre. The officials must have a rethink on this matter.