After two tourists drowned in Sela Lake on January 16 and another visitor just survived drowning in Madhuri Lake, there are now serious worries about visitor safety in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang area. Discussions concerning whether visitors, tour companies, and even authorities are adequately informed of the potentially fatal hazards posed by high-altitude lakes in severe weather have been sparked by the accidents among locals and interested parties. The district government is handling the situation urgently, according to Tawang Deputy Commissioner Nagmyal Angmo. To improve safety precautions following the Madhuri Lake disaster, a coordination meeting with the Army, paramilitary forces, and other stakeholders was conducted.
Army and paramilitary forces have been positioned close to Sela Lake as part of the immediate measures to keep tourists out of the lake. Additionally, a public notification system has been put in place to alert and deter tourists from entering the lake. The Deputy Commissioner urged guests to exercise prudence and conduct themselves appropriately while in Tawang. Additionally, she cautioned visitors against sharing images or videos of people entering or walking on high-altitude lakes on social media since this could inspire others to engage in dangerous activity.She also emphasized the importance of spending at least one day in Tawang to acclimate before continuing on to high-altitude locations like Bumla Pass. At popular tourist locations, signboards stressing safety measures have been erected in addition to advisories.
According to the DC, lakes in the area are highly valued, highlighting their cultural and spiritual significance. Activities that violate local customs and beliefs and compromise their holiness or purity are prohibited. In order to ensure that tourists visiting Tawang are adequately informed of safety precautions, the district administration has also contacted the Assam Tourism Department and requested that it raise awareness among tour operators and other interested parties. The All-Arunachal Pradesh Public Transport Federation’s Tawang unit head, Tashi Dondup, stated that when visitors apply for licenses to enter Bumla Pass, they are advised of the safety regulations.Tourists are also briefed by hotels and taxi drivers, but many are too excited to heed the warnings, which results in regrettable events, he said. According to Jang Gaon Bura Chikong Gombu, Sela Lake has great spiritual importance and is a part of the Jang community. Signboards prohibiting swimming, fishing, and any other activity that might contaminate the lake have been erected. Nevertheless, some visitors behave carelessly,” he stated. He urged tourists to put their safety first, emphasizing that uncharted territory necessitates particular care. “You need to exercise even more caution when you are not at home,” he continued.
