Published Oct 22, 2026 | 1:14 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 22, 2026 | 1:14 PM
German police have arrested a 41-year-old Romanian national who lived in the same building on suspicion of murder.
The mortal remains of three Malayalis who died in a fire at a multi-storey residential complex in Bochum, Germany, will reach Kochi early on Friday (October 23).
The remains were initially expected to arrive on Monday, but repatriation was delayed for multiple reasons.
The deceased are Anjali Sheela Joy, 27, of Perinad in Kollam; Civin Johny, 26, of Kalady in Ernakulam; and Nova Sabu, 25, of Erattayar in Idukki.
Anjali Sheela Joy was the daughter of Joy, a retired Agriculture Department employee, and Sheela Joy, a retired office assistant in the Registration Department. She worked in a warehouse in Germany.
Sivin Johny was a student who had arrived in Germany just two weeks before the tragedy.
Nova Sabu, daughter of KP Sabu and PN Jyothi of Kochadattel, Shanthigram, Kattappana, worked as a gym trainer in Germany. She moved to the country on July 3 after securing a job.
German police had arrested a 41-year-old Romanian national who lived in the building on suspicion of murder after investigators suspected that the fire had been deliberately set.
The remains of Anjali and Civin were flown from Frankfurt to Delhi on October 21. They will be brought to Kochi on an Air India flight departing from Delhi on Thursday night.
Nova’s remains will be flown from Frankfurt to Delhi on Thursday and transported to Kochi on Friday.
The three will arrive on separate flights.
NORKA-Roots will arrange ambulances to transport the remains from Kochi airport to their respective homes. It will also bear the expenses of repatriation.
The organisation has been coordinating with the Protector of Emigrants in Thiruvananthapuram, the Union Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Embassy in Berlin, the Consulate General and Malayali organisations in Germany to facilitate the return of the remains, following the Chief Minister’s directives.
(With inputs from Dileep V Kumar. Edited by R Rajesh Kumar.)
