NEW DELHI – A teenager has died after accidentally shooting himself while posing for a selfie with a loaded handgun held to his head, police said Tuesday.
Ramandeep Singh, 15, pulled the trigger while taking the picture with his smartphone at his home in Pathankot city in Punjab state, said Inspector Bharat Bhushan.
He died in a hospital in the nearby city of Ludhiana late Sunday due to his head injuries. The handgun belonged to his father, who worked as a building contractor.
An autopsy has been conducted, and police are continuing to investigate the death.
India is home to the highest number of people who have died while taking photos of themselves, 19 of the world’s 49 recorded selfie-linked deaths since 2014. The tally from U.S.-based data services provider Pricenomics counted deaths through January.
Mumbai has declared 16 no-selfie zones across the city, and authorities have warned people against taking unnecessary risks while taking pictures in dangerous areas along the coast. Anyone venturing into off-limits areas, even if they take no photos, risks being fined 1,200 rupees, or about $18.
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