The Vietnam boat tragedy has claimed 15 Indian lives near Phu Quoc Island. A speedboat capsized on Saturday, July 11, carrying Indian tourists on a leisure trip. Officials will now fly their mortal remains home today.
Grief has spread across three states following the accident. Meanwhile, Vietnamese authorities have launched a criminal investigation. Families are awaiting closure as the bodies begin their final journey.
What Happened Near Phu Quoc Island
The speedboat left Hon May Rut Ngoai island on Saturday afternoon. It carried 32 Indian tourists and four crew members. However, within minutes, the vessel overturned roughly 400 metres from shore.
Survivors said the boat had barely travelled half a kilometre. According to them, strong winds and high waves reportedly tilted the vessel. Then, panicked passengers shifted to one side, worsening the imbalance.
Nearby boats rushed to help immediately. Rescuers pulled several passengers from the water. Meanwhile, some victims stayed trapped inside the capsized hull.
Fifteen Indian nationals lost their lives in the accident. Among them, ten victims came from Tamil Nadu, three hailed from Andhra Pradesh, and two from Kerala. Seventeen people survived the ordeal. So far, doctors have discharged sixteen from hospital. Most have already returned to India, including a group that landed in Hyderabad on Sunday night. However, one survivor remains critical. Doctors shifted him from Phu Quoc to a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. He underwent a medical procedure on Sunday, and his family has since joined him there.
Vietnam Victims’ Bodies to Arrive in Mumbai Today
The Indian Embassy in Hanoi confirmed the repatriation schedule on Monday. Officials will fly the mortal remains from Ho Chi Minh City to Mumbai. For this journey, they will use Vietnam Airlines flight VN979. The aircraft will depart at 6 PM local time. It will then land at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport around 9:35 PM IST. Meanwhile, state governments are expected to assist with arrangements for transporting the mortal remains to the victims’ hometowns.
The embassy also expressed condolences to the affected families. Officials in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City say they remain in close contact with survivors’ relatives. Throughout the process, they have reiterated their support. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also responded to the tragedy. He expressed his condolences in a post on social media platform X. In his post, he confirmed that the embassy is providing all possible assistance to affected families.
Vietnam Launches Investigation Into Captain
Vietnamese authorities detained the boat’s captain on Sunday. Local media identified him as 57-year-old Nguyen Hong Hai. He was operating the vessel when it capsized. Vietnam’s Prime Minister has ordered a full investigation into the incident. He has also directed officials to review maritime safety across the region. Currently, authorities want to determine whether negligence played a role.
Survivors have separately raised concerns about the emergency response. According to them, rescuers had no air ambulance at the time. As a result, some passengers performed CPR themselves before medical teams arrived. Local authorities have since suspended speedboat tours in the area. Services will only resume once weather conditions improve. For now, officials say visitor safety remains the top priority.
Many of those on the ill-fated trip worked for the same company. Reports indicate Lava Mobiles had organised the visit for its sales staff. Organisers originally planned the excursion as a reward trip before it turned tragic.
What Happens Next
Attention now shifts to the investigation’s findings and the final survivor’s recovery. In the coming days, Vietnamese authorities will likely release more details on the probe. Meanwhile, families in India will begin funeral arrangements after today’s repatriation.
Source: IE
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