Repatriation of 15 Indians Killed in Vietnam Boat Tragedy Completed, One Critically Ill
The bodies of 15 Indian nationals who died in a boat accident off Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island arrived in Mumbai on Monday. The remains were flown from Ho Chi Minh City on a Vietnam Airlines flight, according to news agency PTI.
Of the 15 victims, 10 were from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh, and two from Kerala. The Indian Embassy in Vietnam expressed gratitude for the condolences and support from Vietnamese authorities and citizens, stating, 'Your prayers, efforts and presence gave us strength in this extreme hour of grief.'
The repatriation process was facilitated with the assistance of Vietnamese authorities. While 16 rescued Indian tourists have returned to India, one remains hospitalised in Vietnam. The Indian national, aged 49, underwent a medical procedure in Ho Chi Minh City after suffering severe lung damage, multiple injuries, and brain bleeding due to near drowning. His family members have arrived in the city. The survivor is in critical condition, as reported by the Associated Press.
The accident occurred on Friday when a speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members capsized near Hon May Rut Ngoai Island, off Phu Quoc. The vessel overturned about 400 metres from the island, killing 15 tourists. The remaining passengers were rescued. The cause of the accident is under investigation by Vietnamese authorities. The speedboat operator was detained on Sunday, according to Vietnamese news portal VN Express International.
Phu Quoc, Vietnam's largest island, is a popular tourist destination known for its beaches and coral reefs.
