Vietnam boat tragedy: Andhra minister visits kin of Vijayawada victim Jayalakshmi
Synopsis
A corporate leisure trip turned fatal near Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam, killing 15 Indians — three of them from Andhra Pradesh. With mortal remains en route to India and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu personally reviewing relief efforts, the tragedy has exposed the risks faced by Indian tourists on overseas group tours organised by private companies.
Key Takeaways
A boat carrying 32 passengers capsized near Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam , killing 15 Indians , including 3 from Andhra Pradesh .
The deceased from Andhra Pradesh were Gelli Jayalakshmi ( 50 , Vijayawada), Mudiam Sreedhar ( 50 , Kadapa), and Ravi Teja (Hindupur, Sri Sathya Sai district).
Andhra Pradesh minister Kollu Ravindra visited Jayalakshmi's family in Vijayawada on Sunday and assured government support.
Jayalakshmi's mortal remains are expected in Vijayawada by Monday evening , with handover to family on Tuesday .
Chandrababu Naidu reviewed relief operations and directed officials to expedite repatriation.
The Embassy of India is coordinating with Vietnamese authorities for the earliest transport of all 15 mortal remains to India.
Andhra Pradesh minister Kollu Ravindra on Sunday, 13 July visited the residence of Gelli Jayalakshmi (50) in Vijayawada to console her family, days after she was among three people from Andhra Pradesh who lost their lives in a boat capsize near Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam on Saturday. The tragedy claimed 15 Indian lives in total, making it one of the deadliest overseas accidents involving Indian tourists in recent years.
What Happened at Phu Quoc Island
A tourist boat carrying 32 passengers met with an accident near Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam during a leisure trip organised by a mobile phone company for the families of its cell phone distributors from India. Of those on board, 15 passengers lost their lives. Jayalakshmi's husband, Gelli Kishore, survived but sustained injuries and was admitted to a hospital in Vietnam.
The two other deceased from Andhra Pradesh were identified as Mudiam Sreedhar (50) of Kadapa and Ravi Teja of Hindupur in Sri Sathya Sai district.
Minister's Assurances to the Bereaved Family
During his visit, Minister Kollu Ravindra met Jayalakshmi's children and assured them that Kishore was receiving the best available medical care in Vietnam. He also spoke over the phone with family members who had travelled to Vietnam to be by Kishore's side, inquiring about the medical services being provided.
The minister confirmed that Jayalakshmi's mortal remains were expected to arrive in Vijayawada by Monday evening and would be formally handed over to the family on Tuesday. He further stated that minister Nara Lokesh had spoken to the Indian Embassy regarding the incident and that the government would extend full support to the affected families.
Chief Minister Reviews Relief Operations
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday reviewed the assistance being extended to victims of the Vietnam boat accident with senior officials. According to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), he directed officials to make swift arrangements to bring the victims back to their hometowns.
The state government confirmed that all Telugu tourists stranded at Phu Quoc Island following the tragedy had safely reached Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi. They were scheduled to depart Hanoi at 7:05 pm local time aboard Vietnam Airlines and were expected to arrive in Hyderabad on Sunday night.
Repatriation of Mortal Remains Under Way
The Embassy of India in Vietnam stated on Sunday that the mortal remains of the 15 Indian nationals who died in Saturday's accident were being transported to Ho Chi Minh City, with arrival expected by Sunday evening. Following completion of formalities there, the remains were to be transported to India at the earliest.
The Embassy and Consulate teams are closely coordinating with Vietnamese authorities, who have assured all assistance for the earliest repatriation. The Embassy of India, the Government of Andhra Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh Bhavan, New Delhi are providing round-the-clock consular, logistical, and repatriation support. All eyes are now on the formal handover of the remains to the families, with the Andhra Pradesh government expected to announce further relief measures in the coming days.
Point of View
With no mandatory safety audits or insurance requirements under Indian law. Fifteen deaths on a single boat should prompt both the Centre and state governments to ask hard questions of the company that organised the trip, not just coordinate repatriation. The speed of political response from Andhra Pradesh is commendable, but the focus must shift quickly from condolence visits to accountability — including whether the Vietnamese operator held valid safety certifications for the vessel.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Vietnam boat accident involving Indians?
A tourist boat carrying 32 passengers capsized near Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam on Saturday during a leisure trip organised by a mobile phone company for the families of its Indian cell phone distributors. Of those on board, 15 Indian nationals lost their lives and several others were injured.
Which Andhra Pradesh residents died in the Vietnam boat tragedy?
Three people from Andhra Pradesh died: Gelli Jayalakshmi (50) of Vijayawada, Mudiam Sreedhar (50) of Kadapa, and Ravi Teja of Hindupur in Sri Sathya Sai district. Jayalakshmi's husband, Gelli Kishore, survived with injuries and is hospitalised in Vietnam.
When will the mortal remains of the victims be returned to India?
The Embassy of India stated that the mortal remains of all 15 Indian nationals were being transported to Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday, after which they would be flown to India at the earliest. Jayalakshmi's remains are expected to reach Vijayawada by Monday evening, with the formal handover to her family on Tuesday.
What steps has the Andhra Pradesh government taken following the tragedy?
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reviewed relief operations on Sunday and directed officials to expedite repatriation. Minister Kollu Ravindra visited the victim's family in Vijayawada, while Minister Nara Lokesh spoke to the Indian Embassy. The state government, the Embassy of India, and Andhra Pradesh Bhavan, New Delhi are providing round-the-clock consular and logistical support.
Have the surviving tourists from Andhra Pradesh returned to India?
Yes. All Telugu tourists stranded at Phu Quoc Island following the accident safely reached Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi. They were scheduled to depart Hanoi at 7:05 pm local time on Vietnam Airlines and were expected to arrive in Hyderabad on Sunday night.
