Fazil Khan (Journalist) Wiki, Age, Death, Family, Biography & More

Fazil Khan was an Indian journalist who died on 23 February 2024 in New York in a fire incident that broke out in an apartment building in New York’s Harlem.

Contents

Wiki/Biography

Fazil Khan was born in 1996 (age 27 years; at the time of death). He pursued a BA in English language and literature at Delhi University, New Delhi from 2014 to 2017, an English Journalism Diploma at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi from 2017 to 2018, and an MS in Data Journalism at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, New York from 2020 to 2021. ^[1]Fazil Khan – Linkedin

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 8″

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Black

Family

Parents & Siblings

There is not much information about his parents.

Fazil Khan with his mother

He has five siblings, one of his brothers’ names is Kashif.

Career

In December 2014, Fazil undertook a research internship at the University of Delhi Vice Chancellor’s Office, where he remained until January 2015. From May 2018 to November 2018, he served as a sub-editor at Business Standard in New Delhi. Between December 2018 and August 2020, he held the position of correspondent at CNN-News18. Between September 2021 and March 2022, he served as an investigative fellow at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism in New York. In September 2022, he began working as a data reporter at The Hechinger Report in New York. The publication specializes in reporting on innovation and inequality within the education sector. He remained in this position until his passing on 23 February 2024. His responsibilities included collecting and analyzing educational data and collaborating with colleagues to uncover educational disparities and investigate advancements in the field. As per his website, he has provided news bytes to THE CITY, USA Today, and Business Standard.

Death

Fazil passed away on 23 February 2024, following a fire caused by a lithium-ion battery at a six-story apartment building, St. Nicholas Place, in Harlem. ^[2]The Times of India This fire tragically claimed Khan’s life and caused injuries to 17 others. As reported by the New York Fire Department, eighteen people were rescued, twelve of whom were transported to a nearby hospital, with four being in critical condition. In a statement, fire department chief John Hodgens said,

On the third floor, one of the apartment doors was left open where the fire had started. The fire was so intense…if you could imagine, flames coming out that door and blocking off the stairwell.”

Building where fire took place

It was reported that multiple videos and images capturing the rescue operations gained significant attention on social media. Those who survived the building incident had to either jump out or make use of the fire escape. The Indian Embassy in New York extended support on 25 February 2024, confirming their engagement with the victim’s family and friends to facilitate in deportation of his body to India. The Indian Embassy took to X and wrote,

Saddened to learn about death of 27-year-old Indian national Mr. Fazil Khan in an unfortunate fire incident in Harlem, NY. India in New York is in touch with the late Mr. Fazil Khan’s family & friends. We continue to extend all possible assistance in reparation of his mortal remains to India.”

After his death, his organization, The Hechinger Report took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their condolences and wrote,

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.”

Facts/Trivia

Following his graduation from Columbia Journalism School in 2021, he was chosen as a post-graduate fellow for the institution’s Global Migration Project.
Fazil Khan with his friends while studying in Columbia University