Two tourists from Kerala, Dinu (26) and Mahadev (24), drowned in the icy waters of Sela Lake in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang district. They were trying to rescue a third member of their group who had slipped onto the frozen surface.
Kerala tourists drown in Sela Lake
The tragedy happened around 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. near the popular high-altitude lake, which is located over 13,000 feet above sea level. One member of their seven-person group, traveling from Guwahati to Tawang, ventured onto the ice and began to drown. Dinu and Mahadev quickly jumped into the freezing water to save their friend. While the original victim managed to climb out safely, the two rescuers pulled under the fragile ice and did not resurface.
Tawang Superintendent of Police DW Thongon confirmed that police received information around 3 p.m. They immediately launched a difficult joint rescue operation. This effort included district police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams, despite poor visibility, extreme cold, and fading light.
Rescuers found 1 dead body
By evening, rescuers found Dinu’s body. It has been preserved at Jang Community Health Centre for a post-mortem scheduled for Saturday morning. They stop starts search for Mahadev due to darkness and hazardous conditions. But it resume at first light, with more resources brought in.
SP Thongon stressed that while Sela Lake looks beautiful, its ice remains unstable in winter and cannot reliably support weight. This warning reiterated in advisory notices issued by the district administration since December.
Authorities have put up warning signboards at Sela Lake and other tourist spots, clearly advising visitors against walking on frozen water, especially after several near-miss incidents in recent winters.
The lake, which is sacred to local Buddhists and a popular stop along the way to Tawang Monastery, attracts thousands of visitors during peak season. However, it becomes dangerous when temperatures drop below freezing from November to February.
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