Tragic Fire Engulfs Children’s Education Centre at River Valley Road
Singapore, April 9 — A devastating fire broke out at a three-storey shophouse on River Valley Road in Singapore on Tuesday morning, killing a 10-year-old girl and injuring 20 others, including the younger son of Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.The blaze erupted at a building housing multiple educational and enrichment classes for children, including a cooking school, theatre group, and robotics centre. Emergency services were alerted to the fire around 9:45 a.m., and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) managed to extinguish the flames within 30 minutes using three water jets.
16 Children and 6 Adults Rescued
Authorities confirmed that 16 children aged between six and 10 and six adults between 23 and 55 were rescued from the inferno. Among the children was seven-year-old Mark Shankar, son of actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan, who sustained burns on his hands and legs and is currently being treated in hospital for injuries including smoke inhalation.In a statement from Kalyan's Jana Sena Party released in Vijayawada, the party expressed concern for the young boy’s condition and confirmed that Pawan Kalyan would travel to Singapore after concluding his prior engagements.
Eyewitness Accounts Describe Harrowing Scenes
Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene as thick black smoke poured from the second and third floors of the building. Shaik Amirudin, a personal trainer present at the scene, said some children were unconscious and badly burnt, with their eyes rolled back.Construction workers from a nearby site sprang into action when the fire broke out. Subramanian Saranraj, an Indian-origin lorry driver, and his colleagues helped save trapped children by using scaffolding and a ladder to reach them.
"I felt scared, but not for myself. I felt scared for the children, because they were so small and couldn't climb out on their own," Saranraj said.
80 Evacuated, Cause Under Investigation
According to SCDF, around 80 people from the shophouse and nearby premises were safely evacuated. A total of 20 injured individuals were taken to hospitals.Police said there was no indication of foul play, and investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.
Emotional Aftermath and Community Response
One of the last individuals rescued was believed to be a teacher, carried out on a stretcher in distress and tears. Bystanders described scenes of panic, with several women seen crying and pleading with police for information about their children.Videos circulating on social media show frightened children sitting on a ledge on the third floor as smoke billowed from the building.
Staff from Newtonshow, the enrichment centre that operated in the affected shophouse and is part of the Orange Mood Group, declined to speak to reporters. The company’s name was displayed on the signboard outside the building.
The tragic incident has shocked the local community and raised concerns over fire safety at educational premises.
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