The blaze erupted at 4:15 a.m. on Poststrasse in Bochum’s Hofstede district, engulfing a second‑floor apartment. Five residents were hospitalized, one critically, after smoke poured through the wooden staircase.
German police arrested a 41‑year‑old Romanian national who shared the building. Investigators ruled out a technical fault and suspect deliberate ignition on the ground floor.
Nova Sabu, 25, worked part‑time as a gym trainer after arriving in Germany on July 3. Sivin Johny, 26, had come only two weeks earlier for higher studies, while Anjali Sheela Joy, 25, was employed at a local warehouse.
Kollam MP NK Premachandran has urged the Indian embassy to facilitate swift repatriation. State Tourism Minister PC Vishnunath confirmed the government is coordinating with the Department of Non‑Resident Keralites Affairs.
The bodies will be flown back after formalities, with the Indian Embassy overseeing transport. A coroner’s inquest is scheduled for next week to determine the exact cause of the fire.