'Sweet, Bright' N.J. High School Student, Parents Killed In Fire, School Says

A New Jersey family of three were identified Friday as the victims who died in the fire at an apartment complex earlier this week.

Husband Vinod B. Damodaran, age 44; wife Sreeja Thekkekoical-Sasi, age 38; and child Aardra V. Nair, age 13, were identified as the three victims in the Hillsborough fire, Acting Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson announced.

Damodaran had reportedly worked at Rutgers University and New Jersey State University, a relative told Patch.

Aardra was a freshman at Hillsborough High School and a letter was sent to parents from Dr. Jorden Schiff, Superintendent of Schools.

• Here is the letter:

It is with deep sadness that I share with you the loss of one of our students. Recently, the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office informed me that Aardra Nair, freshman at Hillsborough High School, was identified as one of the fatalities found at the site of the apartment fire on Farm Road.

Principal Karen Bingert described Aardra as, "...a sweet, bright young woman, who will be greatly missed by the HHS family."

Grief counseling will be available for any student or staff member needing additional support. If your child would like to see a counselor, he or she should let a teacher know, or you can contact the school office. We will make certain that your child is provided the necessary assistance. Our thoughts and condolences are with the Nair's family and friends during this most difficult of times.

• The Fire

A structure fire broke out at the Hillsborough Garden Apartments on Farm Road around 9:52 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 24.

"Responding officers upon arrival came upon a fully engulfed fire from an upstairs unit," Robertson said. "Officers immediately conducted an evacuation of adjoining units by alerting residents of the active fire."

After the fire was contained Hillsborough Fire 36 went inside the second floor unit and found the three victims in the same apartment unit.

A forensic odonatologist worked with the New Jersey Regional Medical Examiner’s Office to positively identify the deceased residents.

The circumstances involving the fire, cause and manner of death, is an active investigation pending further studies by investigators and the Regional Medical Examiner’s Office.

Responding units to the scene included:

• Hillsborough Station 37 Fire
• Hillsborough Station 38 Fire Woods Road
• Hillsborough Station 36 Fire Flagtown Fire-Rescue
• Hillsborough Emergency Medical Service Units
• Neshanic 48 Fire
• Raritan Borough Fire
• Somerset County Communications OEM
• Hillsborough Township OEM
• Red Cross

Image by Rachel Gabriel

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