Two Kerala Tourists Drown in Frozen Sela Lake, Tawang – Tragic Accident
Tragic Drowning Incident: Two Brave Kerala Tourists Lose Lives in Frozen Sela Lake, Tawang
Itanagar/Tawang, January 17, 2026 – A heart-wrenching tragedy struck at the scenic yet treacherous Sela Lake in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang district on Friday, claiming the lives of two young tourists from Kerala who heroically attempted to save a fellow traveler.
The victims, identified as Dinu (26) and Mahadev (24), were part of a seven-member group from Kerala traveling in a mini-bus from Guwahati to Tawang for a vacation. During a sightseeing stop at Sela Lake around 3 pm, one group member accidentally slipped through the thin, fragile ice of the frozen high-altitude lake and began drowning.
Displaying immense courage, Dinu and Mahadev immediately entered the icy waters to rescue their companion. Tragically, both drowned in the freezing conditions. The person who initially fell managed to escape independently and survived.
Tawang Superintendent of Police DW Thongon confirmed the details, stating that a massive joint rescue operation was launched involving Tawang district police, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and Indian Army personnel. Despite extreme cold, poor visibility, and harsh weather, the body of Dinu was successfully recovered on Friday. The search for Mahadev had to be temporarily halted due to darkness but was scheduled to resume at 8 am on Saturday with full support from the involved agencies.
Dinu’s body has been shifted to the Jang Community Health Centre (about 40 km from the site) for post-mortem examination on Saturday.
Sela Lake, perched at an altitude of approximately 13,700 feet near the famous Sela Pass, remains one of the most picturesque spots in Arunachal Pradesh and draws tourists year-round. However, in winter, the lake’s surface freezes with dangerously thin and unstable ice incapable of bearing weight. Authorities have repeatedly stressed the risks through installed warning signboards at Sela Lake and other tourist sites, explicitly prohibiting visitors from venturing onto frozen water bodies.
The Tawang district administration had also issued a specific travel advisory in December 2025, warning that high-altitude frozen lakes can be highly unstable and unsafe during the winter months.
SP Thongon appealed to all tourists to strictly follow local guidelines and advisories: “Such unfortunate incidents often occur when warnings are ignored. We urge everyone to prioritize safety and avoid risky actions in these fragile high-altitude environments.”
This incident once again highlights the perils of winter tourism in India’s northeastern Himalayan region, where breathtaking beauty can quickly turn deadly due to unpredictable weather and natural hazards.
BharatTone.com stands with the bereaved families and prays for the speedy recovery of the survivor. We will provide updates as the search operation progresses and any official statements are released.
(Compiled from official police statements, Arunachal Times, NDTV, The Hindu, Hindustan Times, and other credible sources.)
