Fifteen Indian tourists died after a sightseeing boat capsized off Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam on Saturday, with all victims linked to a Lava Mobiles incentive trip for top distributors.
The boat carried 36 people, including 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members. Twenty-one were rescued, while the deceased included 10 from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh, and two from Kerala, according to the Indian Embassy in Hanoi.
Victims and the Lava Mobiles Incentive Trip
The victims were primarily distributors and business associates from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala who had qualified for the overseas trip based on sales performance. Among them were 14 Lava channel partners and one company employee.
Murugaprabu, a 44-year-old distributor from Palani, Tamil Nadu, was among those killed. His brother confirmed the family was notified by the Indian Embassy, which is handling repatriation formalities. Nirmal Kumar, another distributor from Palani, survived as he was on a separate boat.
Families Await Repatriation of Remains
Families of the victims reported learning of the tragedy through friends or news reports, with many still awaiting official communication. The Indian Embassy stated that the mortal remains of all 15 victims are being transported to Ho Chi Minh City for documentation before repatriation.
Local authorities and the embassy are coordinating to expedite the process, with Vietnamese officials assuring full cooperation. The Tamil Nadu government has also pledged assistance to affected families.
