View of Sela Pass in Arunachal Pradesh. Image for representational purposes only. | Photo credit: The Hindu
One tourist from Kerala drowned in a lake at an altitude of 13,700 feet in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang district on Friday (January 16, 2026) afternoon and another is missing, officials said.
The two, identified as 26-year-old Dinu and 24-year-old Mahadev, were part of a seven-member group heading to the town of Tawang, about 130 km northwest of Selo, the mountain pass where the lake is located.
Tawang’s Superintendent of Police, DW Thongon, said a rescue operation with the help of Sashastra Seema Bal and State Disaster Response Force personnel was launched after police received information about the incident around 3pm.
“We managed to overcome difficult conditions to retrieve the body of one tourist. The search for the missing person had to be suspended due to fading light and harsh weather,” he said.
“We will resume the operation tomorrow (Saturday) at 8 am,” he added.
Sucked under
Officials said the tragedy occurred when tourists stepped onto the frozen Sela Lake. The ice cracked and they were both pulled underground.
Mr Thungon said warning signs have been installed at Lake Sela and other tourist hotspots, clearly prohibiting walking or stepping on the frozen lakes.
“The district administration has also issued an advisory on December 17, 2025, warning tourists against entering frozen lakes and warning that the ice may be unstable and cannot support human weight,” he said.
Officials said Dinu’s body is at the Jang Community Health Center, about 40 km away, where an autopsy will be conducted on Saturday (Jan 17, 2026).
Published – 16 Jan 2026 23:04 IST