Fire, panic and a fatal jump: How an Indian student lost his life in Germany's Brandenburg | Top updates

Indian student Thokala Hruthik Reddy, 25, died after jumping from his apartment in Brandenburg, Germany, to escape a fire on New Year's Eve. His family has appealed to the Indian government for help in repatriating his body. The fire's cause is under investigation.

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The New Year celebrations turned tragic for the family of an Indian student in Germany after he died while trying to escape a fire in his apartment in the eastern German state of Brandenburg. The incident has prompted his family to appeal to the Indian government for assistance in bringing his body back home.

The student, Thokala Hruthik Reddy, was 25 years old. He died late on December 31 after sustaining critical injuries during a fire at his residence. According to reports, the blaze broke out in the building where he lived, forcing him to flee his fourth-floor apartment. While attempting to escape the smoke and flames, Reddy jumped from a window and suffered severe head injuries. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

A report by The News Minute said Reddy initially managed to make his way from the fourth floor to the third floor of the building. However, as thick smoke spread rapidly and flames intensified, he was left with no option but to jump, a decision that ultimately proved fatal.

German authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire. Local media reports have suggested that the blaze may have been triggered by a firecracker, though officials have not confirmed this. The incident occurred amid widespread New Year celebrations across Germany, during which police cracked down on illegal fireworks. In Berlin alone, more than 400 people were detained on New Year’s Eve for violations linked to fireworks, some of which were allegedly used as weapons.

Reddy hailed from Malkapur village in Telangana’s Jangaon district. According to a Deccan Chronicle report, his father is a district spokesperson of the BJP, while his mother heads a local self-help group. His younger sister Saharsra is currently studying BPharmacy.

After completing his BTech from a private engineering college in Hanamkonda district, Reddy moved to Germany in 2023 to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Europe for Applied Sciences. He was planning to return to India on January 13 to celebrate Sankranti with his family, having postponed an earlier visit during Dussehra.

Following his death, Reddy’s family and friends in Telangana have approached the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Germany, seeking urgent help to repatriate his mortal remains. The Indian Embassy has confirmed that it has been informed of the incident and is coordinating with local authorities in Germany to assist the family during this difficult time.