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A 24-year-old woman from Telangana studying in the United States tragically died in a house fire in Albany, New York.
Sahaja Reddy Udumala (Photo: X)
A 24-year-old woman from Telangana’s Jangaon district died in a devastating house fire in Albany, New York, on Thursday. The victim, Sahaja Reddy Udumala, had moved to the United States in 2021 to pursue higher studies. She was reportedly asleep when the fire started and was unable to escape.
According to early reports, the fire started in a neighbouring building before spreading quickly to Sahaja’s residence. Local authorities said the flames intensified rapidly, giving little time for anyone inside to respond. As Sahaja was asleep at the time, she was caught in the fire and could not make it out safely.
Udumala sustained severe injuries in the house fire, the Indian mission confirmed. She was pursuing her Master’s degree in Albany University.
The Consulate General of India in New York confirmed the tragedy and expressed deep sorrow. In a post on X, the mission said it was “deeply saddened by the untimely demise of Ms Sahaja Reddy Udumala” and extended condolences to her grieving family. The consulate added that it was in touch with Sahaja’s relatives and was providing all possible support, including assistance with formalities related to the repatriation of her body.
News of Sahaja’s death has left her family devastated. She was the elder daughter of Udumula Jayakar Reddy, a TCS employee in Hyderabad, and Gopumaria Shailaja, a government primary school teacher. Family members said they had been eagerly waiting for her return after completing her studies. Now, they are seeking government help to bring her body back to India for final rites.
Residents of her hometown in Jangaon have gathered around the family to offer support as they cope with the unbearable loss.
To assist the family during this difficult period, Sahaja’s cousin Rathna Gopu has created a GoFundMe page. The fundraiser states that Sahaja suffered severe burn injuries affecting nearly 90% of her body.
Funds raised will be used for funeral and memorial expenses, repatriation arrangements, and other urgent needs arising from the tragic accident.
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December 07, 2025, 11:33 IST
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