Indian-origin journalist dies in New York building fire
An Indian-origin person died after an e-bike battery sparked a deadly fire in New York's Harlem region on Friday.
The fire reportedly left 17 others injured.
The deceased person was identified as 27-year-old Fazil Khan.
The Indian Consulate in New York confirmed the development and mourned the death of Khan.
The consulate posted on X: "Saddened to learn about death of 27 years old Indian national Mr. Fazil Khan in an unfortunate fire incident in an apartment building in Harlem, NY."
Saddened to learn about death of 27 years old Indian national Mr. Fazil Khan in an unfortunate fire incident in an apartment building in Harlem, NY. @IndiainNewYork is in touch with late Mr. Fazil Khan’s family & friends.
— India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) February 25, 2024
We continue to extend all possible assistance in…
The consulate said it is in tough with Fazil Khan’s family and friends.
"We continue to extend all possible assistance in repatriation of his mortal remains to India," the post said.
The fire burst out Friday in a third-floor apartment — but a Fire Department source told Daily News that was just one place where e-bikes were found.
Three firefighters using the lifesaving rope were lowered to the 5th floor where victims were trapped, grabbed them, & lowered them to the ground. There were 18 total patients. 12 transports, 4 of them in critical condition. 1 person died at the hospital. Fire under investigation pic.twitter.com/867ow7jth9
— FDNY (@FDNY) February 23, 2024
“There were e-bikes in the building in other apartments,” the source said.
By Saturday, a vacate order had been placed on the property as the extent of the building’s damage was assessed, reported Daily News.
Who was Fazil Khan?
Fazil Khan travelled to New York from the Indian capital New Delhi to study in Columbia Journalism School.
He was working with Hechinger Report.
The Hechinger Report posted on X: "We learned Saturday that The Hechinger Report’s data reporter Fazil Khan died in a fire in the New York City building where he lived. We are devastated by the loss of such a great colleague and wonderful person, and our hearts go out to his family. He will be dearly missed."
The Fire Department of the city said the cause of the blaze is currently under investigation.