Thiruvananthapuram: The mortal remains of a couple from Kerala who lost their lives in a tragic boat accident in Vietnam arrived at the international airport here on Tuesday morning.

The deceased, identified as A C Thomas (57) and his wife Loveni Thomas (56), were natives of Kottarakkara. Following the completion of formal airport and customs procedures, their bodies will be transported by ambulance to their native town.
 

Emotional scenes unfolded at the airport's cargo section, where grieving relatives gathered around the two coffins as officials completed the handover formalities.

Kerala State Ministers P C Vishnunadh and C P John, alongside Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh, were present at the terminal to receive the bodies. The political leaders paid their respects by laying wreaths on the coffins.

The bodies were brought to Thiruvananthapuram from Mumbai aboard an Air India flight.

According to reports in the Vietnamese media, 15 Indian tourists were killed in the maritime accident on Saturday. The incident occurred when a speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four crew members capsized approximately 400 metres off Hon May Rut Ngoai, an island situated in the An Thoi archipelago near the coast of Phu Quoc, as reported by the Vietnamese news portal VN Express International.

 

PTI