Boat Tragedy off Vietnam: Three from Andhra Pradesh Among 15 Indian Tourists Dead

The Andhra Pradesh government has launched round-the-clock relief and repatriation efforts after a tourist boat capsized off Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island, killing three residents of the state and leaving another critically injured. The accident occurred on Saturday, July 13, when a speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists overturned during a leisure excursion. In total, 15 Indian nationals died, including 10 from Tamil Nadu and two from Kerala.

The deceased from Andhra Pradesh have been identified as Nallapeta Adiseshaiah Ravi Teja (41) of Hindupuram in Sri Sathya Sai district, Mudium Sreedhar of Kadapa, and Gelli Jaya Lakshmi of Machilipatnam. Another Andhra resident, Gelli Kishore of Machilipatnam, is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Vietnam.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu called the accident "deeply tragic and heartbreaking" and expressed condolences to the bereaved families. He directed officials to coordinate with the Government of India, the Indian Embassy in Hanoi, and the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City to ensure swift repatriation of survivors and the remains of the victims.

Information Technology Minister Nara Lokesh and Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha are monitoring the situation. The Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) and Andhra Pradesh Bhavan in New Delhi have established a 24x7 coordination mechanism with Vietnamese authorities and the Andhra Pradesh Non-Resident Telugu Society.

At the homes of the victims, grief and uncertainty prevailed. Ramesh, brother of Mudium Sreedhar, said, "We have only been told that my brother has passed away. The government must help us bring his body home as soon as possible." Sreedhar had travelled to Vietnam on July 8 for a company event and subsequent sightseeing. Relatives of Ravi Teja in Hindupuram said they were still awaiting formal confirmation and prayed for his safe return until official word reached them.

Officials said they have reached out to the affected families, assuring them of all possible assistance. The state government is working to expedite the repatriation process and provide support to the injured survivor.