Bodies of 15 Indians killed in Vietnam boat tragedy to reach mumbai today
The mortal remains of the 15 Indian tourists who lost their lives in the tragic speedboat accident off Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island will be repatriated to India on Monday, the Indian Embassy in Hanoi said.
According to the embassy, the bodies will be flown from Ho Chi Minh City to Mumbai on Vietnam Airlines flight VN979. The flight is scheduled to depart at 6:00 pm local time and arrive at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai at 9:35 pm IST.
The embassy said the respective state governments have been informed and requested to coo
rdinate with the bereaved families for the transportation of the mortal remains to their hometowns.
Among the victims, 10 were from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh and two from Kerala. Two of those who died were women.
"The Embassy in Hanoi and the Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City pray for the family members of the deceased," the Indian mission said in a statement.
The tragedy occurred on Friday, when a speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members capsized near Hon May Rut Ngoai, off Phu Quoc Island.
While 16 tourists were rescued and have since returned to India after receiving medical treatment, one survivor remains in critical condition at a hospital in Phu Quoc.
The group was returning from an island excursion when the speedboat overturned around 400 metres off Hon May Rut Ngoai Island.
Vietnamese authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident. According to local media reports, the operator of the speedboat was detained on Sunday as part of the ongoing probe.
Phu Quoc, Vietnam's largest island, is a popular tourist destination known for its pristine beaches, coral reefs and island-hopping activities.
