Vietnam Boat Tragedy: Two Tamil Nadu Families Lose Sole Breadwinners

Two families from Tamil Nadu are in mourning after a boat accident near Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam claimed the lives of C. Vinaya Kumar (45) and S. Ravisankar (51) on Saturday, July 11, 2026. Both men were the sole breadwinners for their families.

Vinaya Kumar, a resident of Kannika Parameshwari Amman Koil Street in Saidapet, Vellore, ran a jewellery shop and was the main distributor of Lava Mobiles in the district. He had travelled to Vietnam as part of an incentive trip organised by the mobile phone company. On the morning of the accident, he spoke to his wife and daughter, informing them that he would return the next day. His father-in-law, Prabhakaran, told The Hindu that the family never expected this tragic news. Vinaya Kumar is survived by his wife Jayathi and their 13-year-old daughter. His parents live with his younger brother in Ireland.

Ravisankar, from Annai Kattai Street near Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai, was a distributor for Lava PNG Agency. He had also travelled to Vietnam on a business tour hosted by the parent company. He is survived by his wife and two children. The family learned about the tragedy through the media before being officially informed by the central government on Saturday.

Both families are awaiting the repatriation of the mortal remains. Family members expressed gratitude to both the central and state governments for taking immediate steps to bring the bodies back. The employer of Vinaya Kumar has been coordinating with authorities regarding the incident.

The accident occurred near Phu Quoc Island, a popular tourist destination in Vietnam. The exact cause of the boat accident is under investigation. Authorities from India and Vietnam are in touch to provide necessary assistance to the affected families.