Three Keralites died in a Bochum fire: what police say

Three young Malayalis died in a building fire in Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia, on Tuesday, 13 October 2026. Their bodies reached Kochi on Friday, 23 October.

Here is what we know about the Indians killed in the fire. You will also find what the authorities say about the cause, and who to call if you ever need help.

What happened in Bochum?

The fire broke out at around 4:15 AM. It started in a building with several families on Poststraße, in the Hofstede district of Bochum.

Three Indian nationals from Kerala died. Five other residents were injured, mostly from smoke inhalation (breathing in smoke).

The three lived in a second-floor apartment. They had moved in only two weeks earlier.

Who were the three victims?

Police and Indian media named them as:

• Anjali Sheela Joy, 27, from Chemmakkad, Kollam
• Nova Sabu, 25, from Kattappana, Idukki
• Sivin Johny, 26, from Kalady, Ernakulam

Anjali and Sivin were in Germany for higher studies. Nova had come about six months earlier for work.

What have the authorities said about the cause?

Bochum Police and the public prosecutor's office (Staatsanwaltschaft Bochum) investigated the fire. This is the government office that brings criminal cases to court. They worked with a fire expert, and they have ruled out a technical defect. So it was not a faulty wire or a broken appliance.

A 41-year-old Romanian man who lived in the same building has been arrested. Police suspect him of murder and arson (setting a fire on purpose). He is now in Untersuchungshaft, which means he is held in jail before his trial.

He is a suspect. No court has found him guilty.

Local media, including WDR, Radio Bochum and BILD, report that the fire allegedly started in the hallway. Baby strollers may have been involved. The fire then spread to the wooden staircase.

That staircase was the main way out. With it blocked, people on the upper floors were trapped. These details come from local reports and police press releases of 13 and 14 October, so they may still change.

How were the bodies sent back to Kerala?

The bodies of all three arrived in Kochi on Friday, 23 October 2026. The Kerala state government arranged the return (repatriation) through NORKA Roots. This is its agency for Keralites living abroad. The government also paid the costs.

Who can you contact in an emergency?

Save these numbers in your phone today.

Call 112 for the fire brigade (Feuerwehr) and an ambulance. Use it first in any life-threatening situation. Call 110 for the police.

The Consulate General of India in Frankfurt helps Indians in North Rhine-Westphalia. This includes help with repatriation after a tragedy.

If you are from Kerala, you can also register with NORKA Roots. The agency gives help in emergencies and works with Indian embassies.

What can you do now?

You can't control who lives in your building. But you can know your own exits. When you move into a new flat, walk down the stairs once and find every way out. If there is only one staircase, ask your landlord what the other exit is.

Still looking for a place? Our guide on finding student housing in Germany explains the process. If you are new here, our introduction to living in Germany covers the basics.

One step for today: share 112, 110 and the Frankfurt consulate's number with your flatmates and your family back home.

Cover photo: Alex Fu on Pexels