A Beautiful Yet Perilous High-Altitude Lake Claims Another Life

There's a palpable sadness that hangs heavy over the breathtaking landscapes of Arunachal Pradesh, especially around the serene, yet tragically perilous, Sela Lake. In a truly heartbreaking turn of events, the state has witnessed its second tourist drowning within a mere handful of days at this very spot. This time, it’s S. Sivan Nair, a 64-year-old gentleman from Kadavoor, Kottarakkara in Kerala, whose life was suddenly cut short by the lake's icy depths.

The incident unfolded on a recent Saturday. Mr. Nair, like so many others drawn to Sela Lake's ethereal beauty, was part of a 20-member tour group, undoubtedly eager to capture the stunning vistas. It seems he ventured a little too close to the water's edge, perhaps seeking that perfect photo opportunity, and then, inexplicably, he vanished. His son, understandably alarmed when his father didn't return, quickly raised the alarm, setting off a desperate and extensive search operation.

The efforts to locate Mr. Nair were truly immense, involving a dedicated team from various agencies. We're talking about personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and even the Army. They were joined by local villagers and expert divers, all battling the challenging conditions of the high-altitude lake. Imagine the cold, the sheer depth, the terrain – it’s a formidable environment for a search. Eventually, after what must have felt like an eternity for his family, the team successfully recovered his body on Sunday, thanks to the deployment of advanced remote-operated vehicles (ROVs) and sonar technology. It’s a testament to their persistence, but still, a tragic outcome.

What makes this particular incident even more poignant, even more gut-wrenching, is the stark reality that it's not an isolated event. Just days prior, on March 13th, the very same Sela Lake claimed the life of Dr. Anindya Gupta, a 52-year-old tourist hailing from West Bengal. Two lives, extinguished in the same beautiful but unforgiving waters, within such a short span. It's a sobering reminder that while nature offers unparalleled beauty, it often harbors hidden dangers that demand our utmost respect and caution.

Following the recovery, Mr. Nair's body was carefully transported to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Jang for a post-mortem examination. From there, the difficult journey continued to Tezpur for embalming, a necessary step before he could finally be flown back to Kochi, Kerala. It’s a sad, long journey home for a man who set out on what should have been a memorable and joyous trip. These incidents serve as a powerful, albeit tragic, call for greater awareness and perhaps even enhanced safety measures around such popular, yet inherently risky, natural attractions.