At least four adults and 15 children were admitted to the hospital after a fire on Tuesday morning at a “shophouse” on River Valley Road, Singapore. The country’s government -owned CNA gave this information citing Singapore Civil Defense Force (SCDF).
The hospitalized people include Mark Shankar, president of Jan Sena Party and younger son of Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.
The party said in an official statement that Shankar suffered an injury to his hands and legs and the boy was immediately admitted to the local hospital, where he is undergoing treatment.
Singapore’s media outlet CNA said that in the video of this incident posted on social media, children are seen sitting on the edge of the third floor and the black smoke is getting up. Some construction workers, including the surrounding people, can be seen climbing the scaffolding in an attempt to save them.
Singapore Civil Defense Force said in a statement on Facebook that they were reported to be on fire on 278 River Valley Road at around 9.45 am (local time). The SCDF reported that when they reached there, “the fire was erupted on the second and third floors of the three -storey shop.”
According to the CNA report, the fire was extinguished within 30 minutes using three water jets. About 80 people were evacuated from the affected shop and nearby premises.
The shophouse is the type of a prevailing building in the architecture and heritage built in Singapore. These buildings are usually two to three -storey high, which are made in adjacent blocks along the common party walls. They are narrow, small staircase houses that have a sheltered ‘five -foot’ pedestrian route.
SCDF said, “A total of 19 injured (four adults and 15 children) were rushed to the hospital.”
CNA reported that according to the indications in the video, the affected building is an education center for young children. The Civil Protection Force of Singapore said that the cause of the fire is being investigated and thanked the members of the citizen society for their quick action and bravery.
Meanwhile, the Janasena Party said in an official statement that Pawan Kalyan, who is currently on an official visit to Alluri Sitaram Raju district of Andhra Pradesh, has been advised by party leaders and officials to make their journey short and go to Singapore near their son.
Pawan Kalyan clarified that he had promised the tribal people of Kuridi village near Araku that they would meet them. He said that he will first visit the village, interact with the local people and understand their problems and inaugurated the prescribed development program before leaving.
