The Tamil Nadu government on Sunday dispatched a senior Indian police officer, Santosh Hadimani, to Vietnam to speed up the return of the remains of 10 people killed in the Phu Quoc boat tragedy, officials said.
As many as 15 Indians died after the boat they were traveling in capsized off the coast of Vietnam’s Phu Quoc on July 11, including 10 from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh and two from Kerala.
The state government also said that it is closely coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Vietnam.
“Accordingly, the Prime Minister reviewed the situation and deputed Santosh Hadimani IPS (Deputy Inspector General of Police, Salem) on behalf of the Government of Tamil Nadu to immediately rush to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to expedite the process of repatriation of the remains of the deceased and facilitate treatment of the injured in coordination with the embassy authorities in Vietnam.”
The state government directed officials to coordinate with the Tamil Nadu Home in Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy on rescue, medical assistance and repatriation of the remains.
Governor Rajendra Arlikar, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) legislator Kanimozhi, Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tamil Nadu president Nainar Nageenthiran extended their condolences to the bereaved families.
