Amaravati, July 12 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday directed officials to make swift arrangements to bring bodies of three persons who were among 15 Indian tourists who died after a boat capsized in Vietnam.

The Chief Minister reviewed the assistance being provided to the victims of the Vietnam boat accident with officials.

According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), he directed officials to make swift arrangements to bring the victims back to their hometowns.

Officials informed the Chief Minister that Gelle Kishore, who was injured in the accident, is currently undergoing treatment at a government hospital in Vietnam. The CM was informed that his health condition is gradually improving.

The accident occurred during a leisure trip organised by a mobile phone company for the families of its cell phone distributors in India. One of the tourist boats carrying the group met with an accident near Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam.

The boat was carrying 32 passengers, of whom 15 lost their lives. Among the deceased were three persons from Andhra Pradesh, while another person from the state sustained serious injuries and is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Vietnam.

Officials briefed the Chief Minister that the Indian Embassy in Vietnam has appointed an agency to transport the mortal remains of the deceased to their hometowns.

The process of handing over and transporting the mortal remains has already commenced.

Officials explained that arrangements have been made to transport the tourists who survived the accident back to their hometowns by flight on Sunday.

It was disclosed that the relevant mobile service provider has arranged the flight tickets for them.

The CM instructed officials of Andhra Pradesh Bhavan in New Delhi to provide all necessary assistance until the affected individuals return safely to the country and the process of transporting the mortal remains is completed.

He directed officials to coordinate with the Indian Embassy there regarding the transportation process.

Earlier, the state government said that it responded swiftly to the tragic boat accident in Vietnam, in which three persons from Andhra Pradesh lost their lives.

Chief Minister Naidu, Ministers Nara Lokesh and Vangalapudi Anitha have been continuously monitoring the situation and reviewing developments.

Immediately after receiving information about the incident, Minister Nara Lokesh spoke with officials of the Indian Embassy in Vietnam to assess the situation and ensure that all necessary arrangements were initiated.

He directed the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) to continuously monitor the situation and coordinate all relief and repatriation efforts. The RTGS Command and Control Centre at the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat has since been monitoring the developments round the clock.

RTGS officials have been maintaining close coordination with the Indian Embassy in Vietnam; AP Bhavan, New Delhi; the Andhra Pradesh Non-Resident Telugu Society (APNRT), and the concerned authorities in Vietnam to facilitate timely assistance to the affected families.

–IANS

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