Rescue teams on Friday recovered the body of one tourist from the frozen waters of Sela Lake, while search operations are still underway to trace another tourist who went missing after an ice-related accident earlier this week.
According to officials, the incident took place when a group of tourists walked onto the ice-covered surface of Sela Lake, located near Sela Pass. Due to unstable ice conditions, the surface suddenly gave way, causing two tourists to fall into the icy water. A third tourist who also slipped into the lake was rescued in time and is currently undergoing medical treatment. His condition is reported to be stable.
The recovery operation was led by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Jang, who rushed to the spot along with teams from the local police and defence forces. Personnel worked in extremely difficult conditions, including freezing temperatures, thin air, and limited visibility. After hours of effort, the body of one tourist was retrieved from the lake. 
Officials said the search for the second missing tourist is continuing, but the operation remains challenging. The lake is deep, the water is extremely cold, and the high-altitude terrain makes prolonged rescue work risky for the teams involved. Poor mobile and radio connectivity in the remote area has also slowed the flow of information from the site.
Police at Jang Police Station confirmed that the victims were tourists from Kerala who were travelling towards Tawang. Superintendent of Police Tawang, DW Thongon, stated that both individuals drowned while walking on the frozen surface of the lake. One of the deceased has been identified as Dinu. The second missing tourist has been identified as Mahadev.
Earlier, on January 14, rescue efforts had to be suspended due to darkness and harsh weather conditions. Authorities said the body of Mahadev could not be located before nightfall, forcing teams to halt operations temporarily for safety reasons. The search resumed the following morning with additional support.
