Tragic Death of Telangana Student in Berlin Fire Ahead of Sankranti

Post by : Mina Rahman

The joyous anticipation of celebrating Sankranti has turned into profound grief for a family in Telangana. Hruthik Reddy, aged 25, from Malkapur village in Jangaon district, tragically lost his life in a fire incident in Germany on New Year’s Day.

According to reports, the fire erupted late Wednesday night in the apartment where Hruthik was residing in Berlin. As the flames engulfed the space and thick smoke surged, Hruthik attempted to escape from the upper levels. In his attempt to flee, he jumped down, sustaining severe head injuries. Although he was taken urgently to a local hospital, the medical team could not save him, and he succumbed during treatment.

Hruthik had moved to Germany in June 2023 to pursue a Master’s degree in Magdeburg, following his engineering graduation from Vaagdevi College of Engineering in 2022. He had opted not to return home during the Dasara celebrations, planning instead to celebrate Sankranti with his family in the second week of January.

The shocking news has left his village in mourning, as family and friends grapple with the devastating loss. His family is working with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Germany to expedite the repatriation of his remains for last rites.

Authorities in Germany are currently investigating the origin and cause of the fire.

This heartbreaking incident once again highlights the safety concerns faced by Indian students abroad, following a recent tragic case of a 24-year-old woman from the same district who lost her life in a house fire in the United States while studying.