ALAPPUZHA: At a time when ‘selfie obsession’ ruining the life of many, the August 11 directive of identifying ‘selfie danger zones’ by Union tourism ministry is gathering dust. The additional secretary general (tourism) had asked all states and Union territories to mark "selfie danger zone." The other day Samad, 19, a BCA student, drowned while trying to take selfie standing on a cliff in Kodungallur, Thrissur. Currently the state has no demarcation of no-selfie zones although it has many dangerous cliffs, mountains and rivers attracting tourists.
"I will look into the matter rather seriously. It’s important to make youngsters aware of selfie danger zones. I will immediately pursue the matter," tourism director P. Balakiran said. One of the most dangerous selfie spots in the state is railway tracks. The fascination for the selfie while trekking mountains has also proved deadly. Water bodies are another area youngsters love to take selfies on. So the danger zone advise could deter tourists from indulging in misadventures.
Kerala saw many selfie deaths over the past two years, shaking consciences of the society. Two teenagers were hit by speeding trains and lost their lives. In 2015, a 15-year-old boy from Thrissur lost life 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 electrocuted by overhead live wire. In August last year, 15- year -old Ijaz, a Class IX student, Leo XIII HSS Alappuzha, was swept away by waves at the beach while taking a selfie with friends. The department has put up ‘no photography signages’ in the rocky beaches but of no use.
Nazeer, the father of Ijaz, angry at authorities not educating selfie makers, alleged that nobody had made children aware of the danger. "If the area was declared as selfie danger zone, it could have made them aware of the danger." he said. S. Muraleedharan, a tourism police official here, said the tourists have to be wise enough when it come to the selfie. "It is ultimately up to them to be within their limits. If you are obsessed with the selfie, you should keep a selfie stick and take the pictures from a safe distance," he said.
