LONDON / CROYDON — A community is in mourning after a devastating house fire in South London claimed the lives of two Indian international students, leaving a third injured and recovering in hospital. The incident occurred on February 23, 2026, at a rental property in the Croydon area where the three individuals were residing. Despite the rapid arrival of emergency services, the severity of the blaze led to a tragic outcome for the young scholars who had travelled to the United Kingdom to pursue their academic dreams.
The first victim has been identified as 28-year-old Ganti Abhishek, originally from Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. According to local officials, Abhishek tragically died at the scene due to severe smoke inhalation. Emergency medical teams at Croydon University Hospital attempted to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The loss has sent shockwaves through his hometown, where he was known as a promising individual with a bright future ahead of him.
The second fatality, 26-year-old Kamineni Sai Srikar from Nizamabad, Telangana, passed away after a harrowing battle for his life. Srikar was admitted to the intensive care unit in critical condition following the blaze. Despite several days of specialized medical intervention, doctors were forced to declare him brain dead earlier this week. Srikar had completed his engineering degree in Hyderabad before moving to the UK to pursue a Master’s degree. His grieving family has made an urgent appeal to Indian and British authorities to expedite the repatriation of his remains so that final rites can be performed in his home country.
A third student, whose identity has not been released to the public, managed to escape the burning building as the fire spread. Although he sustained various injuries and remains under medical supervision, doctors report that his condition is stable and continuing to improve. The survivor is reportedly cooperating with investigators to help piece together the timeline of the disaster.
Local authorities in Croydon have launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire. While the property was being used as a shared residence for the students, officials are looking into whether safety protocols and fire alarms were functioning correctly at the time of the incident. The Indian High Commission in London is said to be in contact with the families of the victims to provide necessary consular assistance and support during this difficult period.
