Bodies of 15 Indians killed in Vietnam boat tragedy arrive in Mumbai
NEW DELHI: A flight carrying the bodies of 15 Indian nationals who were killed in the Vietnam boat tragedy landed at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Monday. The remains were flown from Ho Chi Minh City on a Vietnam Airlines flight, as cited by PTI. Of the 15 victims, 10 were from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh and two from Kerala. “We are grateful for the many messages of condolences and prayers from our Vietnamese friends. Your prayers, efforts and presence gave us strength in this extreme hour of grief,” the Indian Embassy said in a post on X.The Indian mission also expressed gratitude to the Vietnamese authorities for their assistance and support in facilitating the repatriation process.While 16 of the rescued Indian tourists have returned to India, one remains hospitalised in Phu Quoc, Vietnam. “The Indian national undergoing treatment at Phu Quoc after the tragic boat accident successfully underwent a medical procedure yesterday evening. He has been admitted in a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City today. His family members have also arrived in Ho Chi Minh City,” the India Embassy in Hanoi said in a post on Monday. The survivor who remains hospitalised is in critical condition, as cited by AP. The 49-year-old suffered severe lung damage after nearly drowning, along with shock, multiple injuries and bleeding in the brain, the report said.A speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members capsized near Hon May Rut Ngoai, off Phu Quoc Island, on Friday, killing 15 tourists. The remaining passengers were rescued.The tourists were reportedly returning from an island excursion when the vessel overturned about 400 metres off Hon May Rut Ngoai Island.The cause of the accident is yet to be determined, and Vietnamese authorities have ordered an investigation into the incident.According to Vietnamese news portal VN Express International, the speedboat operator was detained on Sunday.Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island, is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, known for its white-sand beaches, coral reefs and island-hopping tours.
