India news: Repatriation underway after Vietnam boat sinking

India news: Repatriation underway after Vietnam boat sinking July 13, 2026What you need to know - Mortail remains of 15 Indian toursists set to arrive in India tonight - India observes day of mourning for former Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad - Supreme Court to hear pleas on alleged Ram Mandir donation fraud and airfare fluctuations Here's a roundup of the biggest headlines from India on Monday, July 13: Tired of missing our real-time updates? Click here to add us as a Preferred Source on Google. Then tap the "Star" or "Preferred" to keep DW News at the top of your feed. Remains of Indian torusists killed in Vietnam to arrive in Mumbai The remains of the 15 Indian tourists who died in Vietnam, will be brought to India on Monday night, the Indian Embassy in Vietnam said. The flight is scheduled to depart Ho Chi Minh City at 6:00 p.m. local time and arrive at Mumbai at 9:35 p.m. IST, via a Vietnam Airlines flight, it said in a social media post. "The respective state governments have been informed and have been requested to kindly coordinate with the affected families for the onward journey of the mortal remains to their final destinations," it said in the post. The incident occurred on Saturday as the boat carrying 32 Indian tourists, three Vietnamese crew members and a tour guide overturned in rough seas off May Rut Ngoai, an island near Phu Quoc. The remaining 21 rescued were discharged from hospital and were flying back to India, Vietnamese media said on Sunday. Meanwhile, the 57-year-old captain of the boat has been arrested for "violations of laws" which resulted in the boat capsizing. Vietnamese media outlet Tuoi Tre reported that "initial assessments by Vietnamese authorities suggest this was an unavoidable incident caused by extreme weather conditions" that shifted rapidly. However, state media cited a witness saying he saw the overturned boat with many clinging on to the hull, while others drifted away at sea without life jackets. In India, survivors of the incidents who had returned to their country expressed outrage over the delay in medical attention, according to News agency Press Trust of India. Investigation team on Ram Mandir donation fraud to visit Ayodhya soon, SC to hear plea on central probe A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged embezzlement of donation money at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya is likely to visit the grounds soon to question those associated with the temple's trust. That's according to a report by news agency Press Trust of India which cited unnamed officials. The team is expected to visit the holy city to examine records and and question those connected to the donation management system. The SIT was constituted by the Uttar Pradesh state government exactly a month ago, as allegations emerged that millions in donated cash and precious metal had been misappropriated. The alleged fraud has turned into a political flash point for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party. Inaugurated by Modi in January 2024, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir is a symbol of success for India's ruling Hindu nationalist government. The construction of the temple itself was controversial as it was built on the grounds of the Babri mosque, demolished by violent Hindu nationalist mobs in 1992. Building this grand temple was a central promise of Modi and his ministers' campaign before coming to power in 2014 and then again in 2019. The temple trust was set up under the Home Ministry's notification, and its trustees include known associates of the BJP government. While the team deliberates their next move, the Supreme Court is set to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a fair and time-bound probe into the matter, possibly by the Central Bureau of Investigation. Several critics have expressed their lack confidence in the state government's appointed SIT since, fearing a conflict of interest. India observes one-day mourning for Qatar's former emir The Indian national flag on top of India's presidential Palace flew at half-mast on Monday morning as the country observed a day of mourning after the death Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, who was the emir of Qatar from 1995 until 2013. Known as the Father Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad died at the age of 74. The cause of his death has not been disclosed. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed "profound sadness," in a post on X. "He was a visionary leader who guided Qatar to great levels of development and prosperity. We also remember him as a true friend whom I had the honor of meeting during my last visit to Qatar in February 2024," the post said. Welcome to our coverage Hello! And welcome to DW's India news blog. This is Mahima Kapoor reporting from the New Delhi bureau and I will be your guide to what's happening in the world's most populous country today. The grieving families of the 15 Indian tourists killed in a boat accident in Vietnam over the weekend are waiting for the remains of their loved ones. The remains are set to arrive via a Vietnam Airlines flight that will land in Mumbai on Monday night. In other somber news, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his "profound sadness" on the death of the former emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. India is observing a day of mourning in respect for the leader. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of India will hear a plea to discuss if the alleged donation fraud at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya should be investigated under a central, time-bound probe. Currently, it is being investigated by the state authorities which are facing a trust deficit in this matter. The court will also hear a plea on the unpredictable fluctuations of airfare Indians have been facing of late. Tune in for all of this and more.