India bans some selfies during Independence Day week

India & You

The selfie ban order was issued by the Tourism Ministry as part of security measures being implemented for the Independence Day celebrations

India has banned clicking selfies in front of national monuments during Independence Day week.

A selfie ban order was issued by the Tourism Ministry on Wednesday as part of security measures being implemented for the Independence Day celebrations.

Culture and Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma has written to all state governments, requesting them to introduce precautionary measures and declare ‘Selfie Danger Zones’ at tourist sites. “We are taking up the issue very seriously,” he said. He also urged people to avoid trying to take photographs at dangerous locations.

The Tourism Ministry has issued an advisory to all states restricting tourists from taking selfies in front of important monuments and memorials from August 12-18.

The advisory issued to all states is a part of security measures being taken in view of Independence Day and ‘Bharat Parv’ cultural events.

The police and other security establishments believe that terrorists can launch attacks in the guise of tourists during Independence Day week. They have asked Tourism and Archaeological Survey of India to impose certain restrictions on the movement of visitors at all important monuments and memorials.

In 2015, India reportedly had the highest number of deaths among people trying to take selfies – 15 of the total 27 in the world. Among them were a Japanese tourist who died after falling on the stairs of the Taj Mahal and seven students who drowned in a lake in Nagpur after their boat capsized.