India to Repatriate Mortal Remains of Tourists Killed in Vietnam Speedboat Accident
The Indian Embassy in Vietnam has announced that the mortal remains of the 15 Indian tourists who lost their lives in a tragic speedboat accident off the coast of Phu Quoc Island will be brought back to India on Monday.
According to a post on X, the bodies are scheduled to be transported from Ho Chi Minh City to Mumbai aboard Vietnam Airlines flight VN979. The flight is set to depart Ho Chi Minh City at 1800 hrs local time and is expected to land at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai at 2135 hrs IST.
“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,” said the embassy.
The embassy further mentioned that the relevant state governments have been notified and requested to assist in coordinating the transport of the 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,” the mission added.
Accident Details
The unfortunate incident took place on Saturday when a speedboat, carrying 32 Indian tourists and four local crew members, capsized near Hon May Rut Ngoai, off Phu Quoc Island.
Out of the 32 passengers, 15 Indian tourists died, while 17 others were successfully rescued. The embassy confirmed that of the survivors, 16 have been discharged from the hospital and are en route back to India. However, one survivor remains in critical condition and is receiving treatment at a hospital in Phu Quoc.
Victims’ Background and Response
Among the deceased, there were 10 tourists from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh, and two from Kerala. The respective state governments have set up helplines to assist the families of the victims.
The tourists were reportedly returning from an excursion when the speedboat overturned approximately 400 metres off the Hon May Rut Ngoai island. Nearby tourist boats and Vietnamese rescue agencies launched a search-and-rescue operation, with eyewitnesses stating that some passengers were trapped inside the overturned vessel.
