- By Supratik Das
- Sat, 06 Dec 2025 01:52 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A 24-year-old Indian student, identified as Sahaja Reddy Udumala, has died after suffering severe burn injuries in a tragic house fire in Albany, New York. The Indian Consulate in New York confirmed the incident on Friday, expressing deep grief and assuring full assistance to the family during the crisis.
In an official post on X, the Consulate General of India said it was “deeply saddened by the untimely demise” of Sahaja Udumala, who was pursuing her Master’s degree in Albany. The mission added that it is in touch with her family and is providing necessary support, including coordination for repatriation arrangements.
House Fully Engulfed in Flames When Authorities Arrived
According to the Albany Police Department, officers and firefighters responded to a major house fire on the morning of December 4. When emergency crews reached the residence, the structure was already engulfed in flames, with several occupants trapped inside.
Firefighters located four adults within the home. Emergency medical personnel treated them at the scene before transporting them to a nearby hospital. Two victims were later airlifted to a specialized burn center. Udumala, who had suffered extensive injuries, reportedly had burns covering nearly 90 per cent of her body, succumbed to her injuries despite continuous medical efforts. The police initially withheld her name pending family notification, but relatives later confirmed her identity.
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Family Shares Heartbreaking Details
A fundraiser launched by Udumala’s cousin, Rathna Gopu, revealed the extent of the tragedy. In a deeply emotional note, Gopu wrote that Sahaja “struggled immensely” in the hospital and eventually suffered complete organ failure.
“Sahaja was just 24 years old, a bright and hardworking student with a future full of dreams, hope, and promise,” the cousin wrote. She described Sahaja as warm, determined, and deeply loved by everyone around her, adding that the sudden loss has left the family shattered—emotionally and financially.
The fundraiser aims to cover funeral and memorial expenses, repatriation of her remains to India, support for immediate family members, and additional costs stemming from the incident. As of Saturday, over USD 109,000 has been raised out of the USD 120,000 goal.
With inputs from PTI.