Croydon House Fire Victims Identified as Second Fatality Confirmed
The victims of a fatal house fire in Croydon have been officially named, with authorities confirming a second death in the tragic incident. The devastating fire occurred in the early hours of February 23, engulfing a derelict two-story house on Duppas Hill Terrace in the Waddon area of Croydon.
Victims Named and Identified
The two individuals who lost their lives have been identified as Sai Srikar Kamineni, 26, who was also known as Sonny, and Ganti Abhishek, 28. Both victims were originally from India but were studying in London at the time of the fire. Sai Srikar had previously completed his engineering studies in Hyderabad, India, before relocating to London to pursue a Master's degree in science.
A third person was also involved in the incident and was transported to a local hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation. Medical officials have indicated that this individual is expected to make a full recovery from their injuries.
Emergency Response and Firefighting Efforts
The first emergency call reporting the fire was received at approximately 1:30 AM on February 23. This prompted an immediate and substantial response from fire crews across South London. Approximately 40 firefighters from stations in Croydon, Wallington, and Woodside were deployed to combat the blaze.
Firefighters battled the intense flames for over an hour before successfully bringing the fire under control at 2:47 AM. The property, which had been boarded up prior to the incident, suffered extensive damage with both floors of the structure being destroyed by the fire.
Ongoing Investigation and Additional Fire Incident
The London Fire Brigade and Metropolitan Police have launched a joint investigation into the cause of the fatal fire. Authorities are working diligently to determine what sparked the blaze that claimed two lives in the Croydon community.
In a separate but related incident in Croydon, an empty sports center on Imperial Way caught fire on the afternoon of March 2. Fire crews responded to this incident shortly before 4:30 PM and worked for several hours to contain the blaze, with the situation being declared stable just before 10:00 PM.
Station Commander Tony Perks, who was present at the sports center fire scene, stated that crews would remain throughout the night to monitor and address any remaining hot spots. He also advised local residents and businesses to keep their windows and doors closed due to smoke production from the fire.
The community of Croydon has been deeply affected by these back-to-back fire incidents, with authorities continuing their investigations into both events while providing support to those impacted by the tragedies.
