Rescue teams today recovered the body of one tourist from the icy waters of Sela Lake in Tawang district, while efforts are still underway to locate another tourist who went missing after an accident on the frozen lake earlier this week. Officials said the incident occurred when a small group of tourists stepped onto the ice-covered surface of the lake near Sela Pass. The ice reportedly cracked and collapsed due to unstable conditions, causing two tourists to fall into the freezing water. A third tourist was rescued by locals and security personnel and was later shifted for medical treatment.
The recovery operation was carried out under the supervision of the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Jang, with support from the local police and defence forces. Teams faced severe challenges during the operation due to extreme cold, strong winds, and the high-altitude location of the lake. Despite these difficulties, the body of one tourist was successfully retrieved. Police at Jang Police Station confirmed that both victims were tourists from Kerala who were travelling towards Tawang. The deceased has been identified as Dinu, while the second missing tourist has been identified as Mahadev.
Superintendent of Police Tawang, DW Thongon, said the two tourists drowned after slipping into the lake while walking on the frozen surface. He added that rescue efforts on January 14 had to be suspended due to darkness and poor visibility, making it unsafe for divers and rescue personnel to continue the operation at night.
