Elderly Patna man dies in Vietnam, family struggles to bring body home

Patna: A Patna family is grappling with grief and frustration after the death of its elderly patriarch in Vietnam with his body still stranded abroad more than three days later.

Binda Prasad Singh, 77, a resident of New Bigrahpur Colony in Mithapur, Patna, travelled to Vietnam on March 6 for a business trip with two other people. On March 10, while waiting for his return flight at Phu Quoc Airport, he suffered a heart attack and was admitted to a local hospital. Due to limited facilities there, he was shifted on March 14 by ferry and ambulance to a better-equipped hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, where he received treatment for about 15-20 days. His condition improved and he regained consciousness with doctors indicating he could be flown back to India. However, attempts to arrange an air ambulance failed due to unavailability, visa complications and fit-to-fly issues. His health later deteriorated and he died on April 4.

His son, Mukesh Kumar Singh, who runs an electrical business at Chandi Chowk in Patna, said the family believed timely return to India might have improved his chances of survival. A heart patient who had undergone bypass surgery about 10 years ago, Binda remained active and managed household affairs. After news of the heart attack, his grandson Subham Singh and a relative, Sunil Basant, travelled from Kolkata to Vietnam to arrange his return, but nearly a month later the process remains stalled.

“My nephew and a relative both remain stuck there due to visa processing delays. While my father’s entry was on medical grounds, the system has not properly documented or updated the family members’ visas, leaving them unable to facilitate the repatriation smoothly,” Mukesh said. The family also alleged that errors by immigration and ferry staff, including documents not being stamped during transfer, created further hurdles.

Family members said they repeatedly contacted the Indian embassy for help but received only assurances that the matter was “being looked into”. “We have appealed to the embassy several times, but each time we are told, ‘We’re looking into it.’ We have a right to have a final glimpse of our grandfather. The govt should help to bring his body back to India as soon as possible,” said his granddaughter Amisha Singh. The family has appealed to the central govt and the ministry of external affairs to facilitate the early return of the body for last rites.