Ten tourists from Tamil Nadu die in Vietnam boat capsize

Chennai, Jul 11 (PTI) Ten tourists from Tamil Nadu died in the Vietnam boat capsize on Saturday, and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay instructed officials to take all necessary steps to bring their mortal remains to the state. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar said he was deeply saddened to learn about the tragic incident in Vietnam which claimed the lives of Indian tourists, including those from Tamil Nadu. He conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of all those injured. Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay expressed his deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathies to the kin of Tamil tourists who lost their lives in Vietnam. He instructed officials to take action through the Indian Embassy to bring the mortal remains of Tamils who died abroad. A survivor, Nirmal Kumar from Palani, told PTI Videos over the phone that the speedboat they travelled on overturned within seconds, reportedly due to high waves and possible overloading. Most of the tourists onboard the boat were from Tamil Nadu, and two were in a hospital in a critical condition. The uncle of Alagurajan Sivasamy, killed in the boat tragedy, told reporters in Tiruchirappalli that the HR and CE Minister S Ramesh, the district minister, has conveyed to them that all steps were being taken to expeditiously bring the bodies of the victims. "He went from here only on Wednesday morning for the trip," he said, expressing grief. Fifteen Indian tourists were killed after the speedboat they were travelling in capsized off Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island on Saturday, according to the Indian Embassy in Hanoi. There were 36 people on board, including 32 Indian tourists and four local crew members, of which 21 were rescued. Phu Quoc, Vietnam's largest island, is a major tourist destination, known for its white-sand beaches, coral reefs and island-hopping excursions. The tourists were reportedly returning from an island trip. Embassy of India in Vietnam identified the 15 tourists who lost their lives. It said: "It is with profound grief that we share the list of 15 Indian nationals who have lost their lives in the tragic boat accident near Phu Quoc Island today. The list has been received from the Vietnamese authorities." "Our prayers are with the families of the deceased. The Embassy and Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City remain available for any assistance," it added. PTI JSP VGN SSK