Kerala Tourists' Drowning in Sela Lake: Second Body Recovered, Warning Signs Ignored

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A harrowing incident has shaken the tourist community in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang district, where two Kerala tourists lost their lives after drowning in the frozen Sela Lake. The body of the second victim, identified as Mahadev (24), was recovered on Saturday morning, following a joint search operation involving the Army, SDRF, SSB, ITBP, and district police. The incident occurred on Friday afternoon when a member of a seven-member tourist group from Kerala slipped into the frozen lake and began to drown. Dinu (26) and Mahadev entered the lake in an attempt to rescue him, but they were swept under the icy water. Despite the risks, the group had ignored warning signs at the lake, which were installed by the district administration to caution tourists against walking on frozen waterbodies. A post-mortem examination is being conducted on the deceased, after which their bodies will be handed over to their relatives. The district administration had issued an advisory in December, warning tourists about the dangers of frozen waterbodies, which can be unstable and unable to support human weight. Sela Lake, situated at an altitude of over 13,000 feet, is a popular tourist destination, but it poses significant risks during winter due to extreme cold and fragile ice cover. The district authorities have vowed to take necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future, including increasing awareness among tourists and ensuring that warning signs are clearly visible. This tragic incident serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of adhering to safety guidelines and respecting the power of nature.