Remains of 15 Indians Killed in Vietnam Boat Accident Repatriated
Hanoi — The remains of 15 Indian nationals killed in a boat accident near Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island have been flown from Ho Chi Minh City to Mumbai, the Indian Embassy in Hanoi said.
The Vietnam Airlines flight was scheduled to arrive in Mumbai late Monday. The governments of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu will coordinate transportation of the remains to their final destinations.
The Indian Embassy thanked Vietnamese authorities for their assistance following the accident.
“Embassy of India, Hanoi and the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City wish to convey sincere gratitude to authorities of Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone, An Giang Province as well as Department of Foreign Affairs, Ho Chi Minh City, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all other agencies for all the assistance provided following the tragic boat accident,” the Embassy wrote on X.
“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,” it added.
An Indian national injured in the accident underwent a medical procedure Sunday evening and was later admitted to a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. His family members have also arrived in Vietnam, according to the Embassy.
Police in southern An Giang province have detained the boat’s captain and opened criminal proceedings over alleged legal violations connected to the accident.
The captain was identified as 57-year-old Nguyen Hong Hai, a resident of An Giang province who was temporarily living in the Phu Quoc special zone.
Preliminary reports said the boat was carrying about 32 Indian tourists, including 17 from Tamil Nadu. Other passengers were from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala.
The vessel capsized in waters south of Phu Quoc, prompting a large rescue operation involving emergency personnel, local residents and rescue teams. (Source: IANS)
