'Only Those Who Jumped Survived': Vietnam Boat Disaster Survivor Recounts Tragic Moments

The mortal remains of Indian tourists killed in the July 11 speedboat capsize near Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island arrived at Chennai International Airport on Tuesday, where grieving families received them amid emotional scenes and tributes. A survivor of the accident described the terrifying moments when the boat overturned, while relatives of the victims thanked Indian and Tamil Nadu authorities for their efforts in bringing the bodies home.

Survivor recalls desperate moments after boat overturned

Nirmal Kumar, a survivor from Tamil Nadu's Palani, arrived in Chennai along with the mortal remains and narrated the sequence of events that unfolded after the tourist speedboat capsized while travelling between islands.

"When we were going from one island to another, the boat was upside down. The 20 people who were sitting on the side tried to escape by jumping into the sea. 15 people who were stuck inside the boat were unable to come out because the boat was closed, so they couldn't come out of the boat immediately," Nirmal Kumar said.

He said the delay in rescue operations proved fatal for many passengers trapped inside the vessel.

"Before the rescue team came, it took 10 minutes. So the people who jumped have only survived the entire thing. The Indian government and the Vietnamese government have supported us in recovering the bodies, and they have given all the medical help and everything they have done," he added.

Families thank authorities as victims return home

Among those killed was CB Vinay Kumar, a businessman from Vellore who had travelled to Vietnam to attend a distributors' conference. His father-in-law, while receiving the mortal remains at the airport, thanked the Indian and Tamil Nadu governments for their prompt assistance.

"CB Vinay Kumar is my son-in-law. He's a businessman... He had gone to Vietnam to attend a distributors' conference... But before he could get to the island, this bad situation happened... I thank the Tamil Nadu government, the central government, and the Consulate of the Indian Government in Vietnam, Priyanka. She prioritised this situation, acted extraordinarily, gave us minute-to-minute information," he told ANI.

He also acknowledged the support extended by Vellore MLA Vinoth during the difficult period.

"We cannot convey in words our sincerity towards the Velur MLA... He rendered all sorts of help to us... We will never forget such a humanitarian person. He was with us for the past two, three days, he acquainted us, called us many times, and replied as soon as I called him," he added.

Vellore Assembly Constituency MLA Vinoth, accompanied by cadres of the Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), was present at Chennai airport to pay tributes to the deceased. Floral wreaths were laid as airline officials handed over the bodies to grieving relatives and state authorities.

15 Indians killed in Vietnam tourist boat disaster

The mortal remains of all 15 Indian tourists who lost their lives in the accident were flown back to India, with the first batch arriving in Mumbai on Monday before the victims from Tamil Nadu were brought to Chennai.

The tragedy occurred on July 11 when a tourist speedboat carrying 36 people—32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members—capsized near Hon May Rut Ngoai Island off Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island.

Among the deceased were 10 tourists from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh and two from Kerala.

(With inputs from ANI)