Vietnam boat tragedy: Mortal remains of 15 Indians to be repatriated today
Hanoi, July 13
The mortal remains of the 15 Indian nationals who died in the tragic boat accident in Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island will be transported to India from Ho Chi Minh City on Monday, said the Indian Embassy in Vietnam.
As many as 15 people, including 10 tourists from Tamil Nadu, were killed after a tourist boat carrying Indian visitors capsized off Phu Quoc Island on Saturday, turning what was intended to be a reward trip into a devastating accident.
The Vietnam Airlines flight VN979 is scheduled to leave Ho Chi Minh City at 6:00 p.m. local time and reach Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) at 9:35 p.m. (Indian time).
In a statement on X, the Indian Embassy said, "The mortal remains of the 15 Indian nationals who tragically lost their lives in the 11 July boat accident will be repatriated from Ho Chi Minh City to India today via Vietnam Airlines flight VN979. The flight is scheduled to depart Ho Chi Minh City at 1800 hrs local time and arrive at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) in Mumbai at 2135 hrs IST."
"The respective state governments have been informed and have been requested to kindly coordinate with the affected families for the onward journey of the mortal remains to their final destinations. The Embassy in Hanoi and the Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City pray for the family members of the deceased. We are available for any assistance," it added.
Meanwhile, Vietnamese police in southern An Giang province on Sunday detained and initiated criminal proceedings against a local man over alleged legal violations linked to the tourist boat that capsized.
The detainee was identified as 57-year-old captain Nguyen Hong Hai, a resident of Thuan Tien hamlet in Son Kien commune, An Giang province, who was temporarily residing in the Phu Quoc special zone.
According to preliminary reports, the boat was carrying around 32 Indian tourists, including 17 from Tamil Nadu, while the remaining passengers were from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala.
The vessel reportedly overturned while cruising in waters south of Phu Quoc, a popular tourist destination in southern Vietnam.
Soon after the incident, rescue teams, local residents, and emergency personnel rushed to the scene and launched a large-scale rescue operation.
Several passengers were pulled from the water, while rescuers administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to those found unconscious in an attempt to save their lives.
Despite the swift emergency response, authorities confirmed that 15 people lost their lives in the accident, while the survivors were rescued and provided medical assistance.
The exact cause of the accident has not yet been officially disclosed.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Very sad. But we need to ask serious questions about safety standards for tourist boats abroad. So many Indian tourists traveling now, and incidents like this raise concerns. Shouldn't the tour operators and the Vietnamese authorities have ensured proper life jackets and safety protocols? 😢
What a tragedy! 15 lives lost, mostly from Tamil Nadu. I feel so sorry for the families. At least the Indian embassy is coordinating the repatriation. But we need to be more careful when traveling to such places. Safety comes first, not just thrills. 🙏
Terrible news. The captain being detained is a small consolation. We need stricter regulations for tourism activities in Vietnam and other popular destinations. This should be a wake-up call for Indian travelers too - always check boat safety records and weather conditions before any water excursions.
Very sad to hear this. My heart goes out to the families. But we should also acknowledge the swift rescue efforts by local Vietnamese authorities. They rescued many survivors and tried their best. Now we must ensure proper investigation and compensation for the victims.
It's heartbreaking that a "reward trip" ended in such tragedy. The survivors must be traumatized. I hope the Indian government coordinates mental health support for them as well. And yes, need to ensure such tragedies don't repeat. Safety audits of all tourist boats should be mandatory. 🥺
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.