A tragic fire at a residential building in Germany has claimed the life of a young engineering student from Telangana, leaving his family devastated just days before he was supposed to return home for Sankranti. The incident took place on December 31 in Brandenburg, near Berlin. The student, Thokala Hruthik Reddy, was living there while pursuing his master’s degree.
According to information shared by German authorities, a fire broke out on the floor where Hruthik’s apartment was located. As flames spread and thick smoke filled the corridor, he found himself trapped inside. With no clear way out and the exit blocked by fire, Hruthik jumped from the building in a desperate attempt to escape. He suffered serious head injuries in the fall. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but doctors could not save him.
Who was Thokala Hruthik Reddy?
Hruthik’s family in Malkapur village, located in Chilpur mandal of Telangana’s Jangaon district, had been counting the days to his return. According to NDTV report, Hruthik had postponed coming home during Dasara. Instead, he planned to visit in the second week of January for Sankranti.
Hruthik Reddy had completed his engineering degree from Vaagdevi College of Engineering in Warangal in 2022. In June 2023, he moved to Germany to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Europe for Applied Sciences, based in Potsdam. Hruthik had dreams of building a future abroad before eventually returning home.
Investigation underway
German officials informed Hruthik’s relatives about the incident. Since then, the family has reached out to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Germany. The family of the deceased has requested urgent help to bring his body back to Telangana for the final rites. Local authorities in Germany are currently investigating the case.
Hruthik’s death comes amid a series of tragic incidents involving Indian students overseas. Just last month, a 24-year-old woman from the same Jangaon district, Sahaja Reddy Udumala, died in a house fire in Albany, New York.