Bodies of 15 Indians Killed in Vietnam Speedboat Tragedy to Reach Mumbai Today

Hanoi/New Delhi: The bodies of the 15 Indian tourists who died in a speedboat accident off Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island will be flown back to India on Monday, the Indian Embassy in Hanoi said.

The bodies will be transported from Ho Chi Minh City to Mumbai on Vietnam Airlines flight VN979, scheduled to depart at 6 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 asked to coordinate with the affected families for the onward transportation of the bodies 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 accident occurred on Friday when a speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members capsized near Phu Quoc while returning from an island excursion.

Fifteen Indian tourists were killed, while 16 others were rescued and have since returned to India after receiving medical treatment. One survivor remains in critical condition at a hospital in Phu Quoc.

Vietnamese authorities have launched an investigation into the accident. According to local media reports, the operator of the speedboat was detained on Sunday as part of the probe.

(with inputs from PTI)