Three people from Andhra Pradesh died in a tragic boat accident in Vietnam. Expressing grief over the incident, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has directed the officials to provide all possible help to the victims. A total of 15 Indians have lost their lives in the accident.
Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) [भारत]July 11 (ANI): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday expressed deep grief over the tourist boat accident in Vietnam in which three residents of the state lost their lives.
According to a release, a total of 33 people from the state had gone to Vietnam on a tour, of which 19 were on board the boat when the accident occurred.
Three people lost their lives, while the remaining passengers were saved. One person was seriously injured and is undergoing treatment. Expressing grief over the death of three people in the boat accident, the Chief Minister said that this incident is very sad.
CM Naidu gave instructions to officials
The Chief Minister reviewed the accident with officials and inquired about the relief measures being provided to the victims and the current situation of tourists. He directed the officials to take immediate steps for the safe return of the accident survivors to Andhra Pradesh. He also directed officials to talk to the families of the three deceased and ensure necessary assistance to them.
The Chief Minister directed the Andhra Pradesh Bhavan officials in New Delhi to coordinate with the Vietnamese authorities and the Indian Embassy in Vietnam to provide all possible assistance to the affected tourists and their families.
15 Indians died in the accident
Families of at least 15 Indian nationals are in mourning after their relatives died in a boat capsizing near Phu Quoc island in Vietnam on Saturday. The Indian Embassy in Vietnam said in the list of the dead that 10 people from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh and two from Kerala died in the speedboat tragedy.
Vietnamese authorities earlier in the day confirmed 15 deaths, including 13 men and two women, all Indian tourists, according to Arja Srikanth, special commissioner and special representative of the Andhra Pradesh government at the AP Bhavan in New Delhi. 21 people, including 17 passengers and four crew members, were rescued and admitted to hospitals, while two survivors are in critical condition and receiving intensive medical care.
How did this tragic accident happen?
The speedboat, operated by Ocean Pier Island Company, was carrying tourists from Hoan Me Rut islet to An Thoi Port, about 25 kilometers from Phu Quoc airport, when it capsized at noon (local time), throwing all on board into the sea, according to VN Express citing Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone officials.
According to news reports, nearby tourist boats rushed to the spot after seeing the overturned boat. A boat owner involved in the rescue operation said his vessel reached the spot within about five minutes, but rescue efforts were hampered because several passengers were trapped inside the capsized speedboat, VN Express reported.
By late Saturday afternoon, rescue teams had brought all 36 passengers to shore, VN Express reported. 21 people survived, while 15 others – including two women and 13 men – were confirmed dead. (ANI)
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