CRI听力:Indian Authorities Warning of Fatal Risks of Taking a Selfie

Look at any tourist site or entertainment venue, and you will find someone with their arm outstretched, a mobile-phone in their hand, ready with a quirky pose.

But sometimes the pursuit for the most epic self-portrait can have dire consequences.

According to data services provider Priceonomics, 49 people around the world have died while taking a selfie since 2014.

India tops that list with 19 selfie-related deaths during that period.

In January, 18-year-old Tarannum Ansari died when she tripped and fell into the sea while taking a selfie at Mumbai's Bandstand Fort – a popular tourist spot.

She reportedly drowned.

Mumbai Crime Branch Deputy Commissioner Dhananjay Kulkarni says the authorities have since created 16 no-selfie zones in the city, where they think clicking selfies endangers lives.

"After that incident we have decided to conduct a survey of such places where such type of dangerous places are there in the Mumbai. We have identified about 16 such places, those are on the coastline of Mumbai."

But the problem goes beyond Mumbai.

Last September, an engineering student died from head injuries when a rock he was standing on cracked and sent him tumbling.

He had been trying to take a selfie with friends in front of the Kolli Hills in Tamil Nadu.

And in January 2014, three students aged 20 to 22 died when they stopped to take a photo with a speeding train approaching, and were hit.

They'd been on their way to visit the Taj Mahal.

Despite no-selfie zones with clearly marked signs, some young Indians just can't seem to do without it. Murtuza Rangwala is a student from Mumbai.

"When you are travelling alone, and do not have anyone to take your pictures, then it's only selfie from the front camera which is useful. Secondly, you should always be careful while taking selfies at places like these."

Keerti Sachdeva, a psychologist in Mumbai, says that the constant pursuit of a legendary selfie stems from narcissism and a strong need for acceptance.

"You know people have this sort of feeling in adolescent age especially, that they need to get this acceptance from everyone, that I am a smart person, I am a good looking person. So for acceptance and recognition they are indulging in taking of selfies."

Mumbai police say they plan to run an awareness campaign to deter people from venturing into extreme environments for clicking pictures.

In New York, "tiger selfies" or photos taken with other big cats are prohibited by State law.

On the other side of the Atlantic, Pamplona in northern Spain has banned the taking of selfies during the annual Running of the Bulls.

The law actually states that anyone who puts lives in danger by filming or taking photographs during the running of the bulls can face fines of up to 3000 Euros.

The number of selfies taken - and, unfortunately, the number of selfie-related accidents - is expected to rise as mobile phone usage increases globally.

For CRI, I'm Min Rui