Bodies of Keralam couple killed in Vietnam boat tragedy to arrive in India on Monday
Kollam, July 12
The mortal remains of AC Thomas and his wife Loveni Thomas, natives of Kottarakkara in Keralam's Kollam district who were killed after a speedboat capsized in Vietnam, are expected to arrive at Mumbai Airport at around 10 pm on Monday, according to the Chief Minister's Office.
After reaching Mumbai, the bodies will be flown to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. The Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) Department will coordinate the transportation of the mortal remains from the airport to the family's residence in Kottarakkara, the CMO said.
The couple were among the Indian tourists who lost their lives after a tourist boat capsized near Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam. They had travelled to Vietnam last week for a vacation.
Earlier in the day, the family said they received the news of the tragedy on Saturday, leaving them in deep shock.
Speaking to ANI, Nelson D Thomas, a relative of the deceased couple, said the family was devastated after learning about the incident.
"AC Thomas and his wife went for a trip last week to Vietnam. Yesterday, we got the news at 2 PM that nearly 15 people passed away. Everyone was very shocked as they were very good people and everyone loved them. We got a message the next day that their bodies will come tomorrow or the day after," he said.
Thomas's brother, Varghese, said the family was first informed that the situation was serious before later learning that both had died in the accident. He said the Indian Embassy and the tour coordinator had been in touch with the family regarding the incident.
"Around 2 pm yesterday, we received a call from the Indian Embassy. The tour coordinator who had taken them on the trip also contacted us. Initially, we were only informed that the situation was serious. Later, after speaking to a person who was there, we came to know that both of them had passed away. We are expecting the bodies to be brought back tomorrow evening. The Chief Minister and others have been in touch with us and have extended their support," Varghese said.
The family said they have been receiving support from the Kerala government and are now awaiting the arrival of the mortal remains, which are scheduled to reach India on Monday night before being taken to their hometown in Kottarakkara.
At least 15 people, including Indian tourists, were killed after a speedboat carrying 36 people capsized near Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island on Saturday, according to Vietnamese newspaper VN Express.
The Embassy of India in Vietnam, in a list of the deceased, stated that 10 people from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh and two from Keralam died in the speedboat tragedy.
According to VN Express, citing authorities in the Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone, the speedboat, operated by Ocean Pear Island Company, was ferrying tourists from Hon May Rut Islet to An Thoi Port, around 25 kilometres from Phu Quoc Airport, when it overturned in the afternoon (local time), throwing all those on board into the sea.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is truly sad. 15 lives lost, many from our country. The Indian Embassy should have been more proactive in warning tourists about unsafe operators. Hope the families get proper compensation and support from both Kerala and central governments.
Rest in peace, Thomas and Loveni. 🙏 Such a beautiful couple, gone too soon. The NORKA department doing good work coordinating with the family. But we need stricter regulations for Indian tourists abroad - many operators take advantage of tourists.
Very sad news. 15 people died because of what seems like negligence. The boat was carrying 36 people - that's a lot for a speedboat in rough waters. The Vietnamese authorities need to investigate and hold the company accountable. My thoughts are with all Indian families affected.
I've been to Phu Quoc Island - it's beautiful but some operators really cut corners on safety. This could have been avoided. The Kerala CM's office doing its best to bring back bodies quickly, but the real question is why Indian tourists were put on an overcrowded boat. 😢
Incredibly sad. The fact that 10 from Tamil Nadu, 3 from Andhra, and 2 from Kerala lost their lives shows how many Indian families are affected. I hope the government provides enough support - both for bringing back the bodies and for mental health counseling for the grieving families.
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