MUMBAI • Mumbai police yesterday said they have identified 16 dangerous selfie spots across the Indian city after a man drowned as he tried to save a girl who had fallen into the sea while taking a photo of herself.

The spots include the major tourist attractions of Girgaum Chowpatty beach and Marine Drive promenade as well as the site where the 18-year-old girl slipped last week.

Deputy Commissioner Dhananjay Kulkarni said: "After the unfortunate incident, we have decided to identify 16 spots where taking selfies can be dangerous but we may add more.

"We have written to the municipal corporation to put some warning signs up at such points. We also want them to deploy lifeguards."

But those who simply cannot resist taking selfies will not be fined, said New Delhi Television. "We will make people aware (of the guidelines) through our Twitter account and our website," Commissioner Kulkarni said.

The girl and two friends fell off rocks into the Arabian Sea near Bandra Bandstand in the north of India's financial capital while posing for selfies last Saturday.

A passer-by, 37-year-old Ramesh Walanju, jumped in and helped save the two friends but was washed away by the choppy waters. His body was found in a nearby creek on Monday. The girl is still missing.

Police officers patrolling the selected areas have been briefed to warn people against taking selfies, the deputy commissioner said.

There were more selfie deaths in the first nine months of last year than killings of humans by sharks - 12 against eight, The Telegraph reported yesterday.

Last month, a Pakistani man died in Rawalpindi after being hit by a fast-moving train as he tried to take a selfie with it while standing on the railway tracks. In May last year, a Russian woman accidentally shot herself in the head with a pistol while posing for a selfie.

And US investigators in February said a pilot's repeated snapping of selfies caused a small plane to crash, killing both people on board.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE