Selfie fever may risk life, warn Russian authorities

The ultimate "cool selfie" comes at a price and that could be your life. After increasing number of cases of injuries and deaths, citizens in Russia are being warned not to take selfies in situations which can risk their lives, sky.com reported.

A guide to taking safer selfies has been issued by police in Russia after a growing number of "cool" selfie attempts ended in death and injury.

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"Unfortunately we have noted recently that the number of accidents caused by lovers of self-photography is constantly increasing," Yelena Alexeyeva, an aide to the interior minister, was quoted as saying.

The safety campaign uses road sign-style warning signs to highlight the dangers when taking photos. These include a figure holding a selfie stick on a rail line and one taking a selfie at the top of an electricity pylon.

A leaflet published by the interior ministry warned: "A cool selfie could cost you your life". Tips in the pamphlet include the cautionary note that "a selfie with a weapon kills".

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It comes after a 21-year-old woman in Moscow accidentally shot herself in the head while taking a selfie holding a pistol. A few months back, two youths blew themselves up in the Urals while taking a selfie holding a hand grenade with the pin pulled out.

Similarly, a teenager in the Ryazan region was killed in May while attempting to take a selfie after climbing on to a railway bridge and ended up touching live wires.

Source: IANS