The bodies of 15 Indian tourists who died when a speedboat capsized off southern Vietnam have begun their journey home, marking a somber end to a company trip that turned into a devastating maritime disaster.
The speedboat, carrying 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members, overturned near the shore on Saturday afternoon shortly after departing Hon May Rut Ngoai island, a popular spot near Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island. Authorities said the vessel flipped suddenly, leaving passengers trapped in turbulent waters.
Vietnamese officials have placed the boat’s captain, Nguyen Hong Hai, under investigation for alleged violations of waterway transport safety regulations, according to state media. The probe is expected to examine whether weather conditions, vessel load, or operational errors contributed to the tragedy.
The Indian Embassy in Hanoi confirmed that a flight carrying the remains departed Ho Chi Minh City and would arrive in Mumbai late Monday. The victims hailed from Tamil Nadu (10), Andhra Pradesh (3) and Kerala (2), with state authorities coordinating onward travel for grieving families.
The group was on a corporate trip organised by Lava International, a smartphone and consumer electronics company, for employees, distributors and retail partners. The embassy said 16 survivors have been discharged from hospital and are returning to India, while one person remains in critical condition in a Vietnamese facility.
Hon May Rut island lies about 10 kilometres south of Phu Quoc, a region famed for its white sandy beaches and clear waters a setting that has now become the backdrop to one of Vietnam’s deadliest tourist accidents in recent years.
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