Glacier crushes three selfie-taking tourists

Three tourists from Lahore died after being struck by a glacier near the Batakundi area of Naran, authorities said on Friday. The ill-fated members of the same family were taking pictures and selfies beneath the glacier at the time of its collapse.

The glacier fell unexpectedly, resulting in the deaths of three tourists from the same family, all residents of Lahore. The deceased have been identified as 35-year-old Tahir, 13-year-old Abu Bakar, and 22-year-old Tayyab.

According to officials from the Kaghan Development Authority (KDA), the incident took place near Sohni Waterfall, where the tourists were posing for photos when the glacier suddenly gave way and buried them. All three victims died on the spot. Their bodies were later transported from Naran to Lahore.

Advisor to K-P CM on Culture, Tourism, Archeology and Museums, Zahid Chanzeb, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and directed relevant authorities to provide full support to the affected family. He also urged tourists to avoid unstable areas and refrain from taking selfies in dangerous locations.

Stressing the importance of safety at tourist destinations, he emphasised the need to raise awareness about precautionary measures and instructed officials to further strengthen safety protocols across all tourism sites.

Selfie obsession

Every year, dozens of tourists lose their lives at scenic destinations due to their passion for selfies and TikTok videos. A few days earlier, a tourist from Quetta drowned in the Kunhar River while filming a TikTok video, and another young man was swept away at the Jareed area of the same river.

Taking photos, selfies, and making TikToks at unsafe and unstable locations is proving to be extremely dangerous for tourists. Although similar incidents have been reported in the past, authorities have not imposed any restrictions on photo sessions in such hazardous areas. Many tourists, viewing such activities as "adventure," engage in them recklessly, often with fatal consequences.

In previous years, similar accidents occurred on the Saif-ul-Malook Lake road, where tourists were buried under falling glaciers. Likewise, every year tourists drown in the Kunhar River while attempting to take photos near the water. Despite these recurring tragedies, both tourists and relevant departments fail to take preventive measures.

Such incidents often turn moments of joy into mourning for the victims and their families. In response, provincial tourism advisor Zahid Chanzeb said that efforts would be made to ensure safe tourism in the Kaghan Valley, and that public awareness campaigns would be launched to educate tourists about the importance of safety precautions.