Remains of 15 Indian tourists who perished in a speedboat accident off the coast of southern Vietnam were being transported back to India on Monday. The vessel, carrying 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members, capsized near shore on Saturday afternoon shortly after departing Hon May Rut Ngoai island, located near Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island.
Authorities identified the boat’s captain, Nguyen Hong Hai, age 57, as the subject of an investigation into potential violations of waterway transport safety regulations, according to state media reports. The flight carrying the deceased departed from Ho Chi Minh City and was scheduled to arrive in Mumbai late Monday, the Indian Embassy announced through social media. The victims came from multiple Indian states, with ten from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh, and two from Kerala.
The group had been traveling as part of a corporate excursion organized by Lava International, a manufacturer of smartphones and consumer electronics headquartered in Uttar Pradesh. The trip included employees, distributors, and retail partners of the company. According to the embassy, 16 survivors had been discharged from hospitals and were returning to India, while one individual remained hospitalized in critical condition.
Firsthand accounts from survivors described the incident unfolding rapidly as weather conditions deteriorated. Nirmal Kumar, a 44-year-old businessman aboard the vessel, recounted how a large wave struck the boat, triggering widespread panic among passengers. He noted the vessel became increasingly difficult to control in rough waters before overturning, with passengers attempting to jump to safety as the situation deteriorated. Rescue teams arrived within five minutes and retrieved survivors from the water.
The capsizing occurred approximately 10 kilometers south of Phu Quoc, a renowned beach destination featuring white sandy shores and clear waters that attracts millions of tourists annually. India represents one of Vietnam’s fastest-growing tourism markets.
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