Vietnam boat tragedy: families lose sole breadwinners in Vellore, Tiruvannamalai

A pall of gloom descended on Kannika Parameshwari Amman Koil Street in Saidapet, which comes under the Vellore Corporation, on Sunday as relatives and neighbours consoled the bereaved family of C. Vinaya Kumar, 45, who was among those killed in the boat accident near Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam on Saturday (July 11, 2026).

Vinaya Kumar, who runs a jewellery shop on Lang Bazar Road opposite the fort complex, was the main distributor of Lava Mobiles in the district. He had travelled to Vietnam, along with his colleagues, as part of an incentive trip organised by the mobile phone firm.

“He (Vinaya Kumar) spoke to his wife and daughter on Saturday (July 11) morning, informing them that he will return the next morning (Sunday). We never expected this news,” Prabhakaran, his father-in-law, told The Hindu.

Vinaya Kumar had left for Vietnam on the night of July 8. He was the sole breadwinner of the family and is survived by his wife Jayathi, and a 13-year-old daughter. His parents are living with his younger brother in Ireland.

Family members said his employer had been in touch with the authorities and was coordinating efforts related to the incident. The family is now awaiting the repatriation of his mortal remains from Vietnam. “We thank both governments (Centre and State) for taking immediate efforts to bring his body back to us,” Mr. Prabhakaran said.

S. Ravisankar of Tiruvannamalai.
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S. Ravisankar, 51, from the neighbouring Tiruvannamalai, was also among those who died in the accident. He is survived by his wife and two children. Along with his family, including parents, Ravisankar had been living on Annai Kattai Street near Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai town for generations.

Mr. Ravisankar was a distributor for Lava PNG Agency in the temple town and had travelled to Vietnam as part of the business tour hosted by the parent company. Son of a wholesale merchant, Mr. Ravisankar was the sole breadwinner of the family. The family learnt about the tragedy in the media before they were officially informed by the Centre on Saturday.