Indian Student Hruthik Reddy Dies in Germany After Fire Breaks Out at His Residence

A 25-year-old Indian student from Telangana, Hruthik Reddy, tragically lost his life in a fire accident in Germany on New Year's Day, January 1, 2026. The incident occurred late Wednesday night in Magdeburg, where Hruthik was pursuing his MS degree at the University of Europe, having moved there in June 2023. While attempting to escape the rapidly spreading blaze and thick smoke, he jumped from an upper floor of the apartment and suffered severe head injuries. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

Hruthik, a resident of Malkapur village in Jangaon district, had graduated from Vaagdevi College of Engineering in 2022. His family was eagerly awaiting his return home for the Sankranti festival in the second week of January—he had postponed an earlier visit during Dasara to plan a longer break. The news of his death has plunged the village into deep grief, with relatives and friends now coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Embassy in Germany to facilitate the repatriation of his mortal remains for the final rites.

Local authorities in Germany have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire. Preliminary reports indicate that the blaze spread quickly, trapping residents and making escape extremely difficult. The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the Indian student community in Germany and back home in Telangana.

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This heartbreaking incident comes shortly after another fatal fire involving a Telugu student abroad. Last month, 24-year-old Sahaja Reddy Udumala, also from Jangaon district, died in a house fire in Albany, New York, where she had been living since moving to the US in 2021 for higher studies. In that case, the fire reportedly originated in a neighboring building and spread rapidly, catching Sahaja asleep and preventing her escape.

The back-to-back tragedies have once again highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by Indian students living overseas and the importance of fire safety awareness in student accommodations. As the families mourn their profound loss, the Indian diaspora and educational institutions have extended condolences, while authorities work to support the repatriation process and provide clarity on the circumstances surrounding these devastating events.

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