The bodies of 15 Indian tourists killed in a speedboat accident near Vietnam’s Phu Quoc island on July 11 arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday. The dead bodies were brought to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport by Vietnam Airlines flight, VN has arranged for the bodies to be sent to their respective countries for burial in coordination with the respective state governments.
Ten of the tourists who died were from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh and two from Kerala. Earlier on July 13, the Indian Embassy in Vietnam formally informed the repatriation of the bodies of 15 Indians from Ho Chi Minh City and requested the respective state governments to take necessary measures to hand over the bodies to their families.
The speedboat, operated by the Ocean Pearl Island Company, sank near Hun May Root Island after encountering adverse weather conditions. Vietnamese authorities said the boat was taking tourists to An Thoi port, about 25 kilometers from Phu Quoc airport. The boat was carrying 36 passengers, including 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members. Other tourist boats nearby reached the spot and started rescue operations. The rescue team brought all the passengers ashore but 15 Indian tourists died and 21 survived.
Following the accident, the Indian Embassy worked closely with Vietnamese authorities to identify victims, prepare documents and complete other legal processes, as well as provide assistance to survivors. The only seriously injured Indian tourist has successfully undergone medical treatment and has been transferred to a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for further treatment, the embassy said. The Indian Embassy and Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City would like to thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone and other relevant agencies for their cooperation throughout the process.