Vietnam Speedboat Tragedy: 15 Indian Tourists' Remains Flown Home to Mumbai
The mortal remains of 15 Indian tourists who died in a speedboat accident off Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island were repatriated to India on Monday, the Indian Embassy in Vietnam confirmed.
The bodies were flown from Ho Chi Minh City to Mumbai on Vietnam Airlines flight VN979, departing at 1800 hrs local time and arriving at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 2135 hrs IST.
The accident occurred on Saturday, July 11, when a speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four local crew members capsized near Hon May Rut Ngoai, off Phu Quoc Island. Fifteen Indian tourists died, while 17 others were rescued.
The Indian Embassy stated that 16 of the 17 survivors have been discharged from hospital and are on their way back to India. One survivor remains in critical condition and is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Phu Quoc.
Among the deceased, 10 were from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh, and two from Kerala. The respective state governments have been informed and requested to coordinate with the affected families for the onward transportation of the mortal remains to their final destinations.
The embassy offered condolences and said it remains available for assistance. The tourists were reportedly returning from an island excursion when the speedboat overturned about 400 metres off Hon May Rut Ngoai. Nearby tourist boats and Vietnamese rescue agencies conducted search-and-rescue operations, with some passengers trapped inside the overturned vessel.
