Vietnam boat accident survivors return to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport

On Sunday night, July 12, a group of surviving tourists from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh landed at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad following a deadly boat accident off Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam. The tragedy, which occurred on July 11, claimed multiple lives after a tourist boat capsized in rough waters.

Anxious family members gathered at the Hyderabad airport more than an hour before the flight landed to receive their relatives. Among the returning passengers were survivors who witnessed the accident and attempted to save fellow travellers.

According to survivor Rameshwar Pradhan, a total of 105 tourists had travelled from India to Vietnam on July 8. On July 11, the group reached Phu Quoc Island and planned to visit a nearby island. The tourists were divided into three boats. The first boat, carrying 34 passengers, travelled about one kilometre before losing control in rough waters and overturning.

While some passengers were rescued safely, others fell into the water. Vietnamese naval rescue teams quickly responded to the scene, pulling victims out of the water.

Mahipal Sanghvi, a resident of Vijayawada who was part of an 80-member tour group, remained on the island during the water activities. He described the chaotic aftermath on the shore. He said that once the rescue teams brought those who had fallen into the water back to land, fellow tourists tried administering CPR to them, but it was too late and they were declared dead.

Another tourist, Srinivas from West Godavari district, was waiting for his boat to arrive when the accident occurred just ahead of him. He recalled seeing a dangerous, strong flow of water that caused the vessel to capsize.

A total of 17 members of the tour group returned on the flight to Hyderabad on Sunday night, including approximately eight passengers from Telangana and three from Andhra Pradesh. Meanwhile, two injured passengers remain in critical condition and are undergoing treatment at a hospital on Phu Quoc Island.

Ganesh, a survivor from Hyderabad, estimated that 20 to 30 people from Hyderabad were part of the overall tour group. He noted that the support provided by the Andhra Pradesh government and the Indian Embassy after the tragedy had been highly reassuring to the stranded passengers. Efforts are still underway to assist those who remain in Vietnam.