International
oi-Swastika Sruti
What should have been a holiday full of memories, turned disaster for 15 Indians who got killed in a boat tragedy in Vietnam. In the early hours of Saturday a speed boat carrying 32 Indians capsized near Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island, killing 15 people.
Fifteen Indians died when a speedboat carrying 32 passengers capsized near Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island on Saturday during an incentive tour organized by Lava Mobiles. Most victims hailed from Tamil Nadu.
Among the victims was a Businessman – 54 year old – Shaik Abdullah Abdul Majeed from Tamil Nadu, whose final conversations with his family have left relatives devastated.
A Final Goodbye Before the Journey
On the morning of the tragic accident, Abdullag spoke to his son about the business and then called his wife to inform that he would be travelling to an island and mobile network would not be available. He assured him not to worry if she found him unreachable. Ahead of boarding the speedboat, he had a video call session to see his newborn granddaughter, which turned out to be his last call to anyone now.
AUDIO | Nirmal Kumar from Palani, a survivor of the boat capsizing near Vietnams Phu Quoc Island, recounts the tragic incident in this audio recording. According to him, 15 people lost their lives, two are in critical condition, and the remaining survivors are undergoing medical… https://t.co/lu9i2Xna1n pic.twitter.com/nqp5nJIbqV
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 11, 2026
His family said that Abdullah was not at all interested in travelling and to this Vietnam trip he almost skipped it and instead his son was supposed to go but eventually he decided to go himself.
Reward Trip Ends in Disaster
The Indians onboard the boat was a group – as a part of an incentive tour organised by mobile phone company Lava for its channel partners. The tragedy occurred when a boat carrying 32 Indians and four crew members overturned in a rough sea conditions while returning to An Thoi Port from Phu Quoc Island.
Authorities say that among the passengers 15 people lost their lives and most of the victims were from Tamil Nadu.
As the exact reason of the tragedy is yet to be known, few survivors said that within moments after the boat was hit by a wave, the boat overturned. Others claim that overloading may have contributed to the accident.
Families Wait for Bodies to Return
Another victim – Alagurajan Sivasamy from Tiruchirappalli, left home days before the trip, the family claims that instead of getting the news from the officials they received the news from other people from Tamil Nadu who were also in Vietnam. They are now waiting for the body to return. They urged the Tamil Nadu government to speed up the process.
The current CM Of Tamil Nadu Vijay, expressed condolences to the victims families and also directed the officials to coordinate with the Indian Embassy In Vietnam.
Lava Mobiles Extends Support
However the Lava company too expressed deep condolences on the tragedy and confirmed that its 14 channel partners and one employee got killed in the tragedy. It also said that it is in constant touch with the Embassy in Vietnam to hurry the process of getting the mortal remains to their Indian families asap.
