Indian-origin student dies in house fire in New York
What's the story
Sahaja Reddy Udumala, a 24-year-old Indian student pursuing her Master's degree in Albany, New York, has died after suffering severe injuries from a house fire. According to preliminary information, the fire started in a neighboring structure and spread quickly to Sahaja's home. She was reportedly asleep when the fire started and was unable to flee. When the Albany Police Department responded to the blaze on December 4, they found the residence fully engulfed with several people trapped inside.
Rescue efforts
Firefighters rescue 4 adults, 2 hospitalized
Firefighters rescued four adults from the burning building and provided on-site treatment before taking them to a hospital. Two of them were later transferred to a specialized burn center for further treatment. Unfortunately, Udumala succumbed to her injuries despite medical efforts. Her cousin Rathna Gopu revealed that nearly 90% of Udumala's body was burned in the incident.
Financial assistance
Fundraiser launched to support Udumala's family
Gopu has since started an online fundraiser to help with funeral and memorial arrangements, repatriation of Udumala's remains, and financial support for her immediate family. The fundraiser has raised over $112,000 so far toward its goal of $120,000. Gopu described Udumala as "a bright and hardworking student...with a future full of dreams, hope, and promise." Udumala had moved to the US in 2021 for higher studies.