24-year-old from Hyderabad dies in Albany house fire

HYDERABAD: A cyber security professional from Hyderabad died of severe burn injuries after a fire tore through a residential building on Western Avenue in Albany, United States, on Thursday. Another person from Kukatpally, who was severely injured in the raging fire in the two-storey house, was battling for life.The deceased has been identified as Sahaja Reddy Udumala, 24, a native of Jodimetla near Uppal. Sahaja, daughter of Udumala Jayakar Reddy and Maria Shailaja, originally from Gudur in Jangaon district, completed her master’s in cyber security from the University at Albany a year ago and was working in Albany. Her father is a software professional, and her mother is a teacher in Hyderabad. Sahaja was a niece of Archbishop of Vishakapatnam, Udumala Bala.Family members said the fire broke out around 11.40 am (US time) while Sahaja, who had returned from a night shift, was asleep. “The building has several rooms where many Indian students live. The fire started near Sahaja’s room and spread rapidly. She was rescued by firefighters and taken to a hospital. The hospital staff showed her to us on a live video before removing the ventilator, saying survival was not possible. We saw her for the last time then,” a relative told TOI. Residents rescuedThe Albany fire department received a call around 11.50 am, reporting a blaze at 241 Western Avenue, which soon spread to the adjoining building at 239 Western Avenue. Fire chief Joseph Gregory described the scene as a “wall of fire up the front of the building,” adding that firefighters battled tough weather and strong winds. “It was a difficult operation for our firefighters. Weather conditions are tough. Wind doesn’t help us at all. The members did an outstanding job getting the victims out, getting them to the hospital, and putting the fire out,” Gregory told reporters. A dog was also rescued from the site. The cause of the fire is under investigation.The New York state fire investigations unit has joined the probe into the cause of the blaze. The American Red Cross is assisting 13 displaced residents, including several University at Albany students. Family members said efforts are being coordinated by the Telugu Association of North America and Sahaja’s relatives in the US to send her body to Hyderabad. “Arrangements are being made to bring her home,” a cousin said.