Social media validation: Tourists warned of hazards, urged to take precaution

Selfie obsession has caused fatalities in parts of the country in the recent months

ISLAMABAD: The craze of taking selfie pictures in potentially life-threatening circumstances in an attempt to upload these photos on social media for at times validation - has claimed the lives of numerous citizens. Many have encountered fatal accidents while trying to take selfie pictures.

Psychologists argue that taking selfies had become a self-gratification mechanism with the number of “likes” and “comments” users get as a measure of their popularity in the virtual world.



Recently, three women were posing for pictures on their way to Saiful Muluk Lake, when an avalanche led to the deaths of the tourists.

Moreover, weather experts have apprised citizens from swimming in deep waters, as disaster-prone areas and elevated areas are prone to landslides throughout unstable weather.

Notwithstanding, the public did not pay heed to their warnings and continued being a part of the ominous trend.

“Resorts, lakes, dams and riversides lack warning signboards which are imperative to alert visitors of the possible danger during unstable weather conditions,” said a mother, whose son had drowned in Khanpur Dam, a few years ago.

Usually, youngsters, as a group would plan to visit these water resorts, unaware of the risks and precautions necessary, she added.

The victim’s mother further added that selfie craze at those risky places could lead to fatal accidents and as a result family members of the deceased would live the rest of their lives traumatised.

“There must be some mechanism to disseminate effective awareness among the youth about the hazards of swimming and taking showers in dams, rivers and streams,” she said.



Pakistan Meteorological Department Director-General Ghulam Rasool said that the public had been warned several times to avoid swimming and showering in dams, due to the increase in water level.

Rasool added that those showering and swimming in rivers at times end up falling into deep ravines instead of stones.

Another case of a woman drowning in Kunhar River, while taking a selfie along with her cousin who had jumped to rescue her was also reported recently.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2016.