TV broke news of their deaths: Company reward trip turned nightmare for 15 families

A reward trip to Vietnam organised by Lava Mobiles for its top-performing distributors ended in tragedy on Saturday when a sightseeing boat carrying Indian tourists capsized off Phu Quoc Island, killing 15 Indians, all of them associated with the smartphone maker.

The victims included 14 Lava channel partners and one company employee, Lava Mobiles said in a statement. Most of those on the incentive tour were distributors and business associates from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala who had qualified for the overseas trip based on their sales performance.

Families of several victims told India Today that they were struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss and were awaiting the return of their loved ones' mortal remains from Vietnam. Many said they first learnt about the tragedy through friends or television reports and were yet to receive detailed official communication about the repatriation process.

According to the Indian Embassy in Hanoi, the boat was carrying 36 people, including 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members. Twenty-one people were rescued. The deceased included 10 people from amil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh and two from Kerala.

MURUGAPRABHU (TAMIL NADU)

Murugaprabu (44), a mobile phone distributor from Palani in Dindigul district, was among the 10 people from Tamil Nadu killed in the accident.

He and fellow distributor Nirmal Kumar were authorised Lava Mobile distributors in Palani and had travelled to Vietnam on July 8 as part of the company's incentive programme.

During a sightseeing excursion near Phu Quoc Island, the Indian tourists were divided into two boats. Murugaprabu was on the first boat, which capsized with 32 Indian tourists and three crew members on board. Nirmal Kumar, who was travelling in the second boat, escaped unhurt.

Murugaprabu's brother said the family was informed about the incident around 11 am by officials from the Indian Embassy in Vietnam. He said the embassy was handling all formalities and would inform them once arrangements were made to bring the body back to India.

SENTHIL KUMAR (TAMIL NADU)

Senthil Kumar, a businessman from Dharmapuri district, was the son of a retired police officer.

He operated multiple businesses, including a dairy farm, an aluminium manufacturing unit and a mobile phone shop in Kadathur.

The Dharmapuri resident had travelled to Vietnam as part of the Chinese smartphone maker's dealer incentive programme. He is survived by his wife, Poovizhi, and their nine-year-old daughter.

ALAGURAJ (TAMIL NADU)

Alaguraj, a resident of Tiruchirappalli, had travelled to Vietnam after qualifying for Lava Mobile's incentive programme. The deceased oversaw the company's operations across three districts of Tamil Nadu.

He is survived by his wife and two sons.

His father-in-law, Thangavel, said Alaguraj's wife had spoken to him at around 7.30 am on the day of the accident and had reminded him to be careful. The family, however, came to know about the tragedy only around 3 pm after watching television news.

Thangavel said the family was devastated by the loss. He added that the Tamil Nadu government had contacted them and assured all necessary assistance, including efforts to bring Alaguraj's body back to India.

"We are completely shattered. We don't have anyone else," he said.

MUDIYAM SREEDHAR (ANDHRA PRADESH)

Mudiyam Sreedhar, a mobile phone shop owner from Kadapa, was one of the three people from Andhra Pradesh who died in the accident.

His younger brother said the family first learnt about Sreedhar's death through a phone call from one of his friends who had accompanied him on the trip.

"Whatever we know so far is only through the news. We request the government to assist in bringing his body back as soon as possible and help us get justice," he said.

He added that the family had not yet received any official communication from the authorities and was awaiting further information.

BODIES BEING MOVED TO HO CHI MINH CITY

The Indian Embassy in Vietnam said the mortal remains of all 15 victims were being transported to Ho Chi Minh City, where consular and local authorities were completing the necessary documentation.

Once the formalities are completed, the bodies will be flown back to India at the earliest.

The embassy and the Consulate General are coordinating with Vietnamese authorities, who have assured full cooperation to expedite the repatriation process.

- Ends