Vietnam Boat Capsize: Indian Tourists' Holiday Ends in Tragedy, Multiple Dead
An Indian tourist, rescued after a speedboat capsized, is receiving treatment at a hospital in Phu Quoc, Vietnam. The accident on Saturday afternoon killed several Indian nationals who were on a sponsored holiday.
From Tamil Nadu to Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, families who had been receiving holiday updates from their loved ones suddenly received news of their deaths. The boat, carrying 32 Indian tourists, capsized off Phu Quoc Island. The tour was organised by a private medical company.
Among the deceased were AC Thomas (58) and his wife Lovely Thomas (56) from Kottarakkara in Kerala's Kollam district. They had left for Vietnam on July 7 for a weeklong tour. The couple's brother, AC Varghese, said they were first reported missing after the accident. Later, the tour coordinator confirmed their deaths. The family is in touch with the Indian embassy in Vietnam for repatriation of the bodies.
In Andhra Pradesh's Machilipatnam, Gelli Jaya Lakshmi died in the accident while her husband, businessman Gelli Kishore, is hospitalised in Vietnam. Family friend Bandi Rambabu described them as inseparable. "Whenever Kishore travelled, he always preferred to go with his family, especially his wife... It is heartbreaking that a joyful vacation ended in such a devastating tragedy," he said.
Tamil Nadu suffered the highest number of casualties. Among the dead were Salem mobile phone dealer N Sridhar (60), who had travelled with friends on July 8, and Senthil Kumar (45), a Lava mobile dealer from Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts who also ran an aluminium factory. Kumar's father, retired sub-inspector Jayavel, said his son had been reluctant to travel. "Fate took my son's life," he said.
Three more victims from Tiruchirappalli district were N Balaji (44), S Alagurajan (39), and A Shaik Abdullah (56). They had left on Wednesday and were due to return on Monday. At Alagurajan's home, relatives struggled to accept the loss. "Why should something like this happen to such kind-hearted people," a family member said.
Abdullah's elder brother Mohammed Bawa recalled the last call. "This morning, he called his son... he said he would be out of network because they were heading to an island. None of us knew that would be our last conversation."
Another victim, Muruga Prabhu (43), from Dindigul district, was a Lava mobile distributor. He earned the company-sponsored Vietnam trip with friend Nirmal Kumar after meeting sales targets. They left Chennai on July 8 and were expected home on Monday.
Hundreds of kilometres apart, families that had awaited souvenirs and smiling photographs now prepare for coffins, turning a reward trip into a trail of heartbreak. The Indian embassy in Vietnam is coordinating with local authorities for rescue and repatriation efforts.
