Sahaja Reddy Udumala, a 24-year-old Indian student from Telangana‘s Jangaon district, tragically died after sustaining severe burns in a house fire in Albany, New York, on December 4.
Four adults were rescued and given medical treatment before being taken to a hospital with serious injuries. Two of them were later shifted to a burn centre.
The Consulate General of India in New York confirmed her passing, stating it was “deeply saddened by the untimely demise of Ms. Sahaja Reddy Udumala.”
Who was Sahaja Reddy Udumala?
Sahaja, who was pursuing a Master’s degree at Albany University, had moved to the US in 2021 for higher studies and was living in a shared residence when the blaze erupted, reportedly starting in a neighbouring building before rapidly spreading.
Firefighters rescued four adults from the home, including Sahaja, who suffered burns covering nearly 90% of her body.
Emergency personnel treated survivors on-site before hospital transport; two, including her, were airlifted to a specialised burn centre. Despite intensive care, she succumbed to organ failure after days of struggle, News 18 reported.
Sahaja’s cousin launched ‘GoFundMe’
Her cousin, Rathna Gopu, launched a GoFundMe fundraiser detailing the heartbreak.
“Sahaja struggled immensely in the hospital… eventually suffering complete organ failure,” Rathna said.
The campaign has sought funds for her funeral, memorial, repatriation, and family support, highlighting her as the elder daughter of Udumala Jayakar Reddy, a TCS employee in Hyderabad, and Gopumaria Shailaja, a government school teacher, NDTV reported.
The fundraiser has received more than USD 109,000 in donations towards a target of USD 120,000, according to Moneycontrol.