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Rescue personnel carry out operations after a speedboat capsized near Hon May Rut Ngoai off Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam, on Saturday. (Photo: PTI)

Hanoi, July 12: The remains of 15 Indian tourists who tragically lost their lives when a speedboat overturned near Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam are being sent to Ho Chi Minh City for repatriation. The Indian Embassy in Hanoi announced on Sunday that they are working diligently to facilitate the swift return of the deceased to India.

The Embassy confirmed that they are in close collaboration with Vietnamese officials, who have pledged their full support in completing the necessary procedures for the repatriation. Among the deceased, 10 were from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh, and two from Kerala, including two women.

The Tamil Nadu victims have been identified as Senthil Kumar Jayavel, Muruga Prabhu Arumugam, Sridhar Sundararajan, Shaik Abdullah Abdul Majeed, Balaji Natesan, Vinaya Kumar Chithirapuram Bhaskara, Ravisankar Sugumaran, Santosh Kumar Shantilaljain, Babu Kuppuswamy, and Alagurajan Sivasamy.

From Andhra Pradesh, the victims are Nallapeta Adiseshaiah Raviteja, Sreedhar Mudiam, and Jaya Lakshmi Gelli, while the two from Kerala are Avicot Cheriyan Thomas and Loveni Thomas.

Of the 17 survivors, 16 have been released from the hospital and are returning to India, while one remains hospitalized in Phu Quoc for treatment.

The state governments of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala have set up helplines to support the families of both victims and survivors.

The incident occurred on Saturday when a speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four local crew members capsized approximately 400 meters off Phu Quoc Island, a popular tourist destination in Vietnam. While 15 tourists perished, 17 others were rescued.

Vietnamese authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident. Reports indicate that Prime Minister Le Minh Hung has instructed officials to ascertain the cause of the accident and hold accountable anyone found negligent.

The precise details surrounding the capsize remain unclear, but it is reported that the tourists were returning from an island excursion when the boat overturned in the waters near the An Thoi archipelago.

Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his sorrow over the incident, offering condolences to the grieving families. He described the event as a deeply tragic occurrence and extended heartfelt sympathies on behalf of the people of Assam.