2 Kerala tourists drown in Arunachal's frozen lake, 1 body recovered

Two tourists from Kerala drowned in the frozen Sela Lake in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang district on Friday, with the body of one recovered and search operations continuing for the other. The incident occurred in the afternoon at the high-altitude tourist spot, triggering an emergency response from local authorities.

Police identified the deceased as 26-year-old Dinu, while 24-year-old Mahadev remains missing. Both were part of a seven-member tourist group that had reached Tawang via Guwahati. According to officials, one member of the group slipped into the frozen lake, prompting Dinu and Mahadev to enter the water in an attempt to rescue him.

While the third tourist managed to escape safely, the two rescuers were swept under the icy water. The administration received information around 3 pm, following which a joint rescue operation was launched involving district police, central forces, and the State Disaster Response Force.

Despite difficult weather conditions and poor visibility, rescue teams managed to recover one body before nightfall. The search for the missing tourist was suspended due to darkness and harsh conditions and is scheduled to resume on Saturday morning.

Authorities said the recovered body has been kept at Jang Community Health Centre for post-mortem examination. The district administration reiterated that warning signboards and advisories are in place, cautioning tourists against stepping onto frozen lakes due to unstable ice.