The bodies of 15 Indian nationals who lost their lives in the Vietnam boat tragedy were flown back to India on Monday, arriving at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport aboard a Vietnam Airlines flight from Ho Chi Minh City.
Among the victims were 10 people from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh and two from Kerala.
Expressing condolences, the Indian Embassy in Vietnam thanked the Vietnamese authorities and people for their support during the rescue and repatriation efforts.
“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 embassy said in a post on X.
The mission also acknowledged the assistance extended by Vietnamese authorities in facilitating the return of the victims’ mortal remains.
Of the 17 Indian tourists who survived the accident, 16 have returned to India, while one remains hospitalised in Vietnam.
In an update on Monday, the Indian Embassy in Hanoi said the injured tourist had successfully undergone a medical procedure and was shifted to a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City from Phu Quoc. His family members have also reached the city.
According to the Associated Press, the 49-year-old survivor remains in critical condition after suffering severe lung damage from near-drowning, along with multiple injuries, shock and bleeding in the brain.
The accident occurred on Friday when a speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members capsized near Hon May Rut Ngoai Island, off the coast of Phu Quoc. Fifteen Indian tourists were killed, while the remaining passengers were rescued.
The group was reportedly returning from an island excursion when the vessel overturned about 400 metres off Hon May Rut Ngoai Island.
Vietnamese authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident. According to local news outlet VN Express International, the speedboat operator was detained on Sunday as part of the probe.
Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island, is a popular tourist destination known for its white-sand beaches, coral reefs and island-hopping tours.
