The state government has identified at least 20 tourist places in different districts as “selfie danger points” and asked concerned district collectors and SPs to barricade the spots to ensure the safety of tourists. The potentially sensitive locations include some waterfalls, towering hilltops and waterbodies.
As the selfie mania claimed some lives in different parts of the country in recent past, the union tourism ministry in August issued advisory to all states to “identify and barricade” such selfie danger spots.
“We have identified some dangerous waterfalls like Duduma, Sanaghagra, Badaghagra, Khandadhar and Bareipani as dangerous selfie points. Amongst the waterbodies, we have identified Chilika Lake and the river in Bhitarakanika national park as sensitive selfie points. Similarly, the uneven and rocky Sun Temple in Konark, Dhauli Peace Pagoda and twin hills of Khandagiri and Udayagiri are fraught with danger for selfie-crazy tourists,” said state tourism director Nitin Bhanudas Jawale.
The state has so far not witnessed any fatal selfie mishap at tourist destinations, but tourists continue to go crazy and jeopardize their lives by posing for self-shot mobile pictures in different districts. Injury of an engineering student following electric jolt while taking selfie atop a stationary goods train here last week was perhaps the first selfie-related mishap in the state.
Injury of an engineering student following electric jolt while taking selfie atop a stationary goods train here last week was perhaps the first selfie-related mishap in the state.
Jawale said that he recently wrote to all district collectors and SPs to spread awareness among tourists about the danger of taking selfie on towering hilltops or precipices, waterfalls and waterbodies.
“We have requested the collectors and SPs to fence the dangerous selfie points. Signage boards will be installed to draw attention of tourists about the dangerous spots,” Jawale said.
The tourism department said it will sensitize tour operators to spread awareness among visitors about the lurking danger in selfie points.
Experts said selfies these days have become a rage among people, mostly youths to get “likes and comments” on social networking sites.
“We often come across daredevil selfies on social media where people derive pleasure by attracting attentions of others. In Puri, many tourists are frequently getting injured taking selfies behind marauding waves in the sea. This can be very fatal,” said Srimanta Kumar Dash, a hotelier.
Dangerous Selfie Waterfalls: Duduma (157.5 metres) in Koraput district, Sanaghagra (30 metres) in Keonjhar district, Badaghagra (60 metres) in Keonjhar district, Khandadhar (244 metres) in Sundargarh district.
Dangerous Waterbodies: Chilika Lake (spread in Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts) and river in Bhitarkanika national park (home for saltwater crocodiles) in Kendrapada district. Taking selfies while boating in the waterbodies is dangerous.
Courtesy: The Times of India
What Do You Think?