Three tourists from Andhra Pradesh among 15 Indians killed in Vietnam boat tragedy

Government officials with family members of Mudiyam Sridhar, victim of the Vietnam boat tragedy, at their home in Kadapa on Saturday. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Three tourists from Andhra Pradesh were among 15 Indians killed after a tourist speedboat capsized off Phu Quoc island in Vietnam on Saturday. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed grief over the tragedy and directed officials to extend all possible assistance to the bereaved families and ensure the safe return of the bereaved to the state.

The deceased have been identified as Nallapeta Adiseshaiah Ravi Teja, Mudium Sreedhar of Kadapa and Gelli Jaya Lakshmi of Machilipatnam. The relevant district administrations have contacted the families of the victims and are providing all necessary assistance.

Sources at the Andhra Pradesh Bhavan in New Delhi said that according to the Embassy of India in Vietnam, the tourist motorboat, operated by Ocean Pearl Island Company, capsized off Hon May Rut Ngoai near An Thoi on Phu Quoc Island while returning to An Thoi port. There were 36 people on board, including 32 Indian tourists, three crew members and an attendant. Vietnamese authorities confirmed that everyone on board was responsible.

The embassy said 15 Indian tourists lost their lives in the accident, including 10 from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh and two from Kerala. Twenty-one people, including 17 passengers and four crew members, were rescued and admitted to hospitals. The two survivors are in critical condition and undergoing intensive medical care.

The Chief Minister reviewed the situation with the officials and sought details of relief measures for the victims and the condition of the injured.

He directed officials to coordinate the safe return of survivors to Andhra Pradesh and directed AP Bhavan officials in New Delhi to work closely with the Indian Embassy in Vietnam and Vietnamese authorities to provide all necessary support to the affected tourists and their families.

The Indian ambassador, along with embassy officials, is coordinating relief, consular assistance and liaison with Vietnamese authorities on Phu Quoc, with Priyanka serving as the designated nodal officer. Rescue operations have ended and a formal investigation is underway. Bad weather, rough seas and a possible mechanical failure are being investigated as probable causes of the accident.

Human Resource Development, Information Technology and Electronics Minister Nara Lokesh is also coordinating with officials to ensure timely relief to the affected tourists and their families.

After receiving reports that tourists from Andhra Pradesh may have been involved in the Vietnamese boat accident, Mr. Lokesh asked officials for detailed information. They informed him that preliminary information indicated that some tourists from the state who were on holiday in Vietnam were caught in an accident and that they were coordinating with the Indian Embassy in Vietnam to ascertain the condition of the affected tourists. Mr. Lokesh directed them to work closely with the Central Government to ensure that all possible assistance is provided to the victims and their families.

YSR Congress Party President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed shock. In a statement, he said it was extremely tragic that a ship carrying a group of Indian tourists visiting Vietnam met with such an accident.

Among those who died were several mobile phone distributors from Kadapa and Machilipatnam, he said, urging the central and state governments to extend all support to tourists from the Telugu states who are currently stranded in Vietnam. He asked officials to intensify rescue operations to find the missing.

Published – 11 Jul 2026 21:41 IST