7 people died just because of a selfie

An attempt to take a selfie by the swirling waters of the Ganges River has claimed the lives of a young Indian teenager and six of his acquaintances.

Illustration photo: CNNTravel

The incident happened on June 22 when a group of teenagers were bathing at the foot of the Ganges River dam in Kanpur town, Uttar Pradesh state.

While trying to take a selfie, 19-year-old Shivam Gupta accidentally slipped and was swept away by the current caused by heavy rains. Shivam's brother Satyam, five of his classmates and a local resident jumped in to save him.

But unfortunately all seven of them were drowned. Only one of Satyam's classmates survived and called the police.

According to Reuters, the bodies of six victims have been brought ashore, while the seventh victim is still being searched for.

“Young people who congregate at the Ganges barrage often risk their lives while bathing in the river,” police chief Shalabh Mathur told the Indian Express. “They often stray too far and slip on rocks. Before they know it, they are swept away by the current.”

Since the tragedy, authorities have erected a fence around the dam. According to authorities, 24 people, mostly teenagers, have drowned in the river since September 2015.

On June 20, an 18-year-old tourist from Delhi also slipped and fell into the Ganges River, which flows through the city of Rishikesh, Uttaranchal state, and drowned while taking a selfie.

According to Ngoisao.net