Albany, New York, USA: A second Indian national has passed away from critical burn injuries following a devastating house fire in Albany, United States, raising the death count in the incident to two. The Indian Consulate in New York confirmed the death of Anvesh Sarapelli, who died on Saturday after battling severe burns. His passing came just a day after 24-year-old Indian student Sahaja Reddy Udumala died while receiving treatment for extensive injuries from the same fire, which occurred on December 4.
The Consulate General expressed deep condolences and stated that it is closely coordinating with the families of both victims to provide necessary assistance.
Udumala and Sarapelli were among four individuals discovered inside a residence near Quail Street after emergency teams arrived at the scene. Firefighters and medical staff provided immediate care before transporting all victims to Albany Medical Center. The two critical patients were later moved to the Westchester Medical Burn Center for advanced treatment, but neither survived.
According to Albany Police, the house was already engulfed in heavy flames when emergency responders arrived, and several people were trapped inside. Despite rescue efforts, both victims ultimately succumbed to their burns.
Sahaja Reddy Udumala, originally from Jodimetla near Uppal in Telangana, had completed a master’s program in cybersecurity at the University at Albany and was employed in the city. She had reportedly returned home after a night shift and was asleep when the fire erupted around 11:40 a.m. Family members noted that the residence accommodated many Indian students and that the fire began near her room before rapidly spreading. Udumala sustained burns covering nearly 90% of her body and died due to multiple organ failure.
The blaze was first reported around 11:50 a.m. at a house on 241 Western Avenue, eventually extending to the neighboring building at 239 Western Avenue. Albany Fire Chief Joseph Gregory described the situation as extremely intense, noting that strong winds and harsh weather made firefighting efforts more challenging. He lauded the firefighters for rescuing the victims, controlling the flames, and working under difficult conditions.
A total of 13 residents—including students from the University at Albany—were displaced, and a dog was also rescued. A GoFundMe fundraiser was created by Udumala’s cousin, Rathna Gopu, to support funeral, memorial, and repatriation costs. Efforts are also being coordinated by family members and the Telugu Association of North America to transport her remains to Hyderabad.
The New York State Fire Investigations Unit is assisting with the inquiry. The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
