NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Albany, NY, December 6, 2025: A 24-year-old Indian woman, Sahaja Reddy Udumala, died after suffering extensive burn injuries in a devastating house fire in Albany, New York, earlier this week. According to official reports, the blaze broke out on December 4 at a residential building on 241 Western Avenue, rapidly spreading from an adjacent structure and trapping several occupants inside.
Udumala, who had recently completed her Master’s degree in cybersecurity and was working in Albany, was asleep when the fire erupted. Emergency responders rescued four adults from the building and transported them to local hospitals. Udumala was found with burns covering nearly 90 percent of her body and was later transferred to a specialized burn center for critical care. Despite medical efforts, her condition deteriorated, and she succumbed to organ failure, her family members confirmed.
The Consulate General of India in New York announced her death and said it is assisting the family with necessary procedures. Fire officials noted that the affected building did not have an active occupancy permit at the time of the incident, and investigations into the cause of the fire and compliance issues are ongoing.
Udumala, originally from Telangana’s Jangaon district, had moved to the United States to pursue higher education. Her family, devastated by the loss, has launched a fundraiser to cover repatriation and funeral expenses. The campaign has drawn strong support from the Indian American community and has raised more than $100,000 so far.
Authorities continue to assess structural safety concerns in the surrounding area as the community mourns the death of the young professional whose life was cut short by the tragic blaze.
