The mortal remains of a Kerala couple killed in a boating tragedy in Vietnam have arrived in the state

In this photo taken on July 12, 2026, rescuers carry out operations after a speedboat carrying Indian tourists capsized near Hon May Rut Ngoai on July 11, 2026, near Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam. Photo Credit: Submitted by PTI Photo

The mortal remains of two Keralites who died in a boat tragedy in Vietnam arrived in the Kerala capital on Tuesday morning.

The bodies of Kottarakkara natives AC Thomas (57) and his wife Loveni Thomas (56) arrived at the Thiruvananthapuram airport in the morning. After completing the official formalities, they will be taken to their hometown Kottarakara by ambulance.

Teary-eyed relatives stood around two coffins in the airport’s cargo area as the official formalities of handing over the bodies took place.

Kerala ministers PC Vishnunadh and CP John along with Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh were also present at the airport to receive the bodies and pay tribute to the couple by placing wreaths on the caskets.

The bodies were flown from Mumbai to Thiruvananthapuram by Air India.

According to Vietnamese media reports, 15 Indian tourists died in an accident on Saturday.

The speedboat was carrying 32 Indian tourists and four crew members when it capsized about 400 meters from Hon May Rut Ngoai Island, an island in the An Thoi archipelago off the coast of Phu Quoc, according to Vietnamese news portal VN Express International.

Published – 14 Jul 2026 10:16 IST