Published Oct 15, 2026 | 7:57 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 15, 2026 | 7:57 AM
Tourism Minister PC Vishnunath said the Keralam government had begun steps to repatriate the bodies.
Synopsis: Three people from Keralam were killed and five others injured in an apartment fire in Bochum, Germany, on 13 October. The deceased were identified as Anjali Sheela Joy from Kollam, Sivin Johny from Ernakulam and Nova Sabu from Idukki. German police arrested a 41-year-old Romanian resident on suspicion of deliberately setting the fire. The Keralam government has begun coordinating with NORKA and the Indian Embassy in Germany to repatriate the bodies.
Three people from Keralam were killed and five others injured in a fire at an apartment building in Bochum, Germany, early on Tuesday, 13 October.
The deceased were identified as Anjali Sheela Joy from Kollam, Sivin Johny from Ernakulam and Nova Sabu from Idukki. Firefighters found their bodies inside an apartment on the second floor of the multi-family residential building in Bochum’s Hofstede district.
German police have arrested a 41-year-old Romanian national who lived in the building on suspicion of murder after investigators found initial grounds to suspect that the fire was deliberately set.
The fire broke out at around 4.15 am local time on Poststrasse. Five other residents were rescued after collapsing from smoke inhalation and taken to hospitals in the city. Flames spread upwards through the stairwell, making it difficult for firefighters to reach residents on the upper floors, German broadcaster Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) reported.
“Firefighters and police immediately initiated rescue and firefighting operations. However, for three people, all help came too late. They could only be recovered from the building deceased,” Bochum Police said.
“To clarify the circumstances, the Bochum Police Headquarters, under the direction of the Bochum Public Prosecutor’s Office, has established an investigative commission.”
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Tourism Minister PC Vishnunath said the Keralam government had begun steps to repatriate the bodies. Arrangements were being coordinated with NORKA and the Indian Embassy in Germany. The Minister also spoke to Anjali’s family.
Nova Sabu, daughter of KP Sabu and PN Jyothi of Kochadattel, Shanthigram, Kattappana, had been working as a gym trainer in Germany. She moved to the country on 3 July after securing a job.
Her father is a retired Sub-Inspector, and her mother works as a Public Health Nurse at the Chembakapara Primary Health Centre. The family learnt of her death on Wednesday evening. Relatives have contacted the Indian Embassy regarding the matter.
Anjali Sheela Joy was the daughter of Joy, a retired Agriculture Department employee, and Sheela Joy, a retired Office Assistant in the Registration Department. The family lives at Ashwani Nivas in Chembakkad.
She had moved to Germany in July after securing a job. Her sister is Ashwani. The families are awaiting further information on the repatriation of the bodies.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
