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The mortal remains of three residents of Tiruchirappalli, who lost their lives in the tragic boat capsize incident near Vietnam's Phu Quoc island, were handed over to their grieving families on Tuesday.
The accident occurred on July 11 when a tourist boat capsized in the sea near Vietnam's Phu Quoc island, claiming the lives of 15 Indian tourists. Among the deceased, ten were from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh, and two from Keralam. The victims were part of a specialised tour organised by a mobile phone company for its distributors. The bodies of all 15 victims were initially flown to Mumbai on Tuesday, from where they were transported to Chennai and Coimbatore airports for the final leg of their journey. In Tiruchirappalli, the bodies of the deceased--identified as Azhagaraja from Edamalaipatti Pudur, Balaji from Kondaiyampettai in Srirangam, and Sheikh Abdullah from Bheemanagar--were brought by ambulance from Coimbatore airport. DMK Principal Secretary and former Tamil Nadu Minister KN Nehru, along with Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker M Ravishankar and MDMK Tiruchirappalli MP Durai Vaiko, visited the families to pay their last respects and offer condolences. The bodies of two other victims from Tiruvannamalai and Vellore districts were received at the Chennai airport earlier, where floral tributes were paid before they were dispatched to their respective hometowns. The local administration across the affected districts has been assisting the families in conducting the final rites. In Andhra Pradesh, the Krishna district administration and state ministers coordinated the arrival of victims from Machilipatnam. Krishna District Collector DK Balaji termed the incident "highly unfortunate" and confirmed that the district is in constant touch with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Vietnam. "The district administration is providing all necessary logistical and financial support. We are also closely tracking the medical status of a resident who sustained injuries and is currently receiving specialised treatment at a hospital in Vietnam," Collector Balaji said. Andhra Pradesh Minister Kollu Ravindra, who personally visited the bereaved families of victims Gelli Kishore and Jayalakshmi, also highlighted the swift intervention by the state leadership. "Upon learning of the disaster, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu immediately mobilised officials. Union Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu and State Minister Nara Lokesh established direct contact with the Indian Embassy to expedite administrative clearances. AP NRI Affairs Minister Kondapalli Srinivas personally monitored the transition in Hyderabad to ensure a respectful dispatch to hometowns," Minister Ravindra stated. The Minister further informed that while one survivor, Gelli Kishore, is receiving medical attention in Vietnam, the state representative in Delhi, Alapati Srikanth, is working with the Indian Embassy to monitor his progress. Emergency e-visas have also been facilitated for family members to travel to Vietnam to support the survivor. The tragedy occurred on July 11 when a tourist speedboat carrying 36 people, including 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members, capsized near Hon May Rut Ngoai Island off Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island. According to Vietnamese authorities, the vessel, operated by Ocean Pearl Island Company, was ferrying tourists from Hon May Rut Islet to An Thoi Port when it encountered rough weather and overturned, throwing everyone on board into the sea. Nearby tourist boats and rescue teams responded swiftly and brought all passengers ashore. Of the 36 people on board, 21 survived while 15 Indian tourists lost their lives. (ANI)
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