Boat tragedy off Vietnam: Bodies of three Andhra tourists return home after harrowing ordeal
The mortal remains of three tourists from Andhra Pradesh, who died in a boat accident off the coast of Vietnam, were brought back to India on Tuesday (July 14, 2026). The bodies arrived at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport via Mumbai at 7:20 a.m. and were transported to their native towns in ambulances arranged by the Andhra Pradesh government.
The victims were part of a promotional tour organised by mobile phone manufacturer Lava International for its South India distributors. On Saturday afternoon, the tourist boat carrying 32 Indian nationals capsized near Phu Quoc Island after being caught in strong winds. The deceased have been identified as Sridhar from Kadapa, Jayasri from Machilipatnam, and Raviteja from Hindupur.
The Andhra Pradesh government extended immediate support to the families of the victims. Since the accident, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, HRD and IT Minister Nara Lokesh, Minister for MSME, SERP and NRI Empowerment and Relations Kondapalli Srinivas, and officials of the Andhra Pradesh Non-Resident Telugus Society (APNRTS) have remained in constant touch with Indian and Vietnamese authorities to facilitate the return of the survivors and the deceased.
After completing legal formalities at Mumbai airport, the mortal remains were flown to Hyderabad and handed over to the families. Minister Kondapalli Srinivas reached Shamshabad Airport on Monday night and remained there through the night, supervising the arrival of the bodies, coordinating their onward transportation, and consoling the bereaved families. He assured them of the government's full support and enquired about their family circumstances.
Speaking at the airport, the Minister said that the APNRTS would always stand by Telugu people facing difficulties anywhere in the world. He stated that the state government had consistently acted to protect the interests of overseas Telugus. Recalling recent instances, he noted that Minister Nara Lokesh had promptly intervened when a Telugu family lost their passports at Hong Kong International Airport, taking up the matter with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and enabling the issuance of emergency travel documents. During the Nepal crisis, he said, the APNRTS set up a dedicated war room and played a key role in bringing stranded Telugu tourists home on special flights.
The accident has once again highlighted the risks faced by Indian tourists abroad and the importance of swift government action in times of crisis. The Andhra Pradesh government has assured the families of continued support.
