Bengaluru, January 5: A 34-year-old software engineer working with Accenture died of suspected suffocation after a fire broke out at her rented house in Bengaluru on the night of January 3. The victim, identified as Sharmila, was a native of Mangaluru and had been living in the city for work for the past year. The incident occurred in Subramanya Layout but came to light only after police confirmed details of the case.

According to the police, smoke was seen billowing from the house around 10:30 pm. The homeowner, Vijayendra, noticed the fire and immediately alerted the Ramamurthy Nagar Police. Fire and emergency services personnel rushed to the spot and had to break open the door, as the house was already filled with dense smoke. Servite Convent School Student Suicide: Class 10 Girl Found Dead at Home After Pre-Board Results in Narmadapuram.

Firefighters managed to douse the flames and conducted a search of the premises. Sharmila was found unconscious inside the house and was immediately shifted to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival. Preliminary findings suggest she died due to inhalation of smoke. Indian Oil Executive Ajay Garg Dies After Falling From 17th Floor Balcony in Noida; Police Suspect He Stepped Out for Better Network.

Police suspect that Sharmila was unable to escape because of the intensity of the fire and smoke. She was staying in one room of the house, while the other room was occupied by her friend, who was away in her native place at the time. Investigators believe the fire may have originated in the friend’s room. As smoke spread rapidly through the house, Sharmila likely inhaled a fatal amount when she opened her door, causing her to collapse.

A team from the Forensic Science Laboratory has inspected the site, and investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the fire. An unnatural death case has been registered, police said.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 05, 2026 11:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).