Three Indians die in Bochum apartment fire; resident arrested on murder suspicion

Three Indian nationals died when a residential building caught fire in Bochum, Germany, early on Tuesday, October 13, police said. Five other residents required hospital treatment for smoke inhalation, and investigators subsequently arrested a man who lived at the property.

The victims were identified as Anjali Sheela Joy from Kollam, Sivin Johny from Ernakulam and Nova Sabu from Idukki. Police described those killed as two women, aged 25 and 27, and a man aged 26.

The arrested resident is a 41-year-old Romanian national, according to police. Authorities announced his arrest on Wednesday on initial suspicion of murder, with homicide officers investigating the circumstances.

Investigators said they had excluded a technical fault and were examining suspected arson. They had yet to establish whether the blaze was started intentionally or accidentally, and the suspect's arrest does not establish guilt.

The building is in Bochum's Hofstede neighbourhood, where emergency teams were called shortly after 4 am local time. Firefighters discovered the three victims in a second-floor apartment.

Flames travelled up the stairwell, blocking the route crews would normally use to reach and evacuate people on higher floors. The conditions complicated both firefighting and efforts to bring residents to safety.

Rescuers brought two people down using a turntable ladder and another two with portable ladders. A fifth person was rescued using a safety cushion, according to accounts of the operation.

Tourism Minister P.C. Vishnunath said steps had begun to return the bodies to Keralam. He said authorities were working with NORKA and the Indian Embassy, and that he had spoken with Anjali's family.

Police had attended the same building over a dispute on Sunday. Initial information indicated that earlier incidents at the property were unrelated to the fire.

With inputs from NDTV, The Hindu and Hindustan Times.