Four migrant workers in Singapore have been recognised for their bravery during a fire that broke out at a shophouse in River Valley on Tuesday, April 8. The fire claimed the life of a 10-year-old girl and left 21 others injured, including the son of Indian actor-politician Pawan Kalyan.
When the fire started, the group of workers were among the first to rush to the scene. They quickly brought scaffolding from a nearby site, set it up in front of the burning building, and helped people escape from the third-storey window ledge.
The Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) Assurance, Care and Engagement (ACE) group, which supports migrant workers, presented the four men with the Friends of ACE coin on April 9 in appreciation of their heroic efforts.
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“We met up with four migrant workers who were part of the River Valley shophouse rescue,” a post on the official page of ACE’s Facebook read.
The workers honoured are Inderjit Singh, Subramanian Saranraj, Nagarajan Anbarasan, and Sivasami Vijayaraj.
“On 8 April 2025, Subramanian Saranraj was working at a site opposite the shophouse when he saw smoke and flames. Hearing the cries of trapped children, he immediately mobilised his fellow workers. Together, they carried the scaffolding across the road and set it up to reach those stranded inside,” part of the post read.
“They held it steady as other migrant workers and members of the public climbed up to help rescue the adults and children—bringing them to safety one by one.
“In recognition of their courage and selflessness, Jason Tang, Deputy Director of the Forward Assurance and Support Team, presented them with the Friends of ACE (FACE) coin.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to these courageous migrant workers and everyone who stepped in that day, risking everything to save lives. Our heartfelt condolences go to the family of the life lost, and we wish those who remain hospitalised a full and speedy recovery,” it said.
In addition, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) announced that it will also be giving the SCDF Community Lifesaver Award to those who assisted in the rescue.
Many people online have praised the migrant workers and said their bravery deserves recognition.
Meanwhile, SCDF notified that early investigations show the fire likely started in a storage area on the second floor of the shophouse. They also found that there were fire safety issues, including illegal partitions. The parties responsible may face heavy fines or even jail time.
“Following the fire incident at 278, River Valley Road on 8th April 2025, SCDF conducted investigations at the affected premises to determine the cause of the fire and whether there were any fire safety non-compliances,” an SCDF post on Facebook read.
“Preliminary findings are that the fire likely originated from an area used for storage on the second storey of the three-storey shophouse. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.
“Preliminary investigations also found fire safety non-compliances, including unauthorised works involving the erection of partitions within the premises.
“SCDF takes a very serious view of fire safety non-compliances, as they pose significant risks to lives and property. The responsible entity may face a fine of up to $200,000, imprisonment of up to 24 months, or both,” it said.
The exact cause of the fire is still being investigated.
