What should have been a memorable trip turned into tragedy when, on 5 January, a group of tourists met with an accident that resulted in two deaths. The tourists walked onto the frozen surface of Sela Lake, where the ice gave way, leading to the fatal incident.
Tourists often fail to heed advisories, resulting in avoidable loss of life. High-altitude lakes such as Sela Lake are extremely dangerous, as the ice surface is thin and fragile. The ice is not evenly distributed, making certain sections especially prone to breaking.
Snow and icy conditions are not the only threats in regions that attract large numbers of tourists. Altitude is another major concern that is often overlooked. Sela Lake is located at an altitude of approximately 14,000 feet, where low oxygen levels can cause high-altitude sickness and other serious health complications. This risk should never be ignored.
The Tawang district administration has issued advisories, clearly warning tourists not to walk on frozen high-altitude lakes such as Sela Lake, Bumla Pass, Shongetser Lake, and PT Tso. These warnings are also prominently displayed. The advisories further caution against prolonged exposure to extreme cold and advise tourists to take precautions to avoid high-altitude sickness.
The beauty of such places often makes people forget to take necessary precautions, but negligence can prove fatal. One must always remain cautious when travelling to new places and strictly follow advisories issued by authorities for one’s own safety.