On Thursday 22nd October, it was reported that two people were killed after a suspected gas explosion resulted in the collapse of a building in Southall. The explosion occurred at a hair salon and phone shop underneath a set of flats where four adults and a child were rescued besides other people being evacuated from the King Street area of Southall.
London Fire Brigade had further confirmed the news, tweeting, “Sadly two people have died at the explosion and building collapse in Southall (incorrectly stated as in Ealing previousl). Firefighters worked painstakingly to search the building and initial crews rescued a number of people.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for Met Police said, "A large explosion was found to have taken place inside a shop. Emergency services entered the building and sadly, two people were pronounced dead at the scene. Formal identification has not taken place, and next of kin have not been informed.
"An early assessment suspected the cause to be a gas explosion. Emergency services are continuing to work together to establish the exact cause which is currently unexplained.”
In the meantime, Slough Observer noted that London Fire Brigade was called to the fire early on Wednesday and rushed in six fire engines and around 40 firefighters. According to the paper, Jatinder Singh’s shop Dr Phone was “totally destroyed” in the blast.
Speaking to Slough Observer, he said, “I don’t know what happened. I was told I couldn’t go to the shop, but you can see from the pictures it’s totally destroyed. I don’t know how to explain how I’m feeling. I have lost everything. I don’t know what to say – I’m in shock. I’m really scared that now I don’t know how to survive.”
Later Evening Standard reported how a 39-year-old Sukhdev Singh, hailed a young firefighter who saved his five-month old daughter Manseerat following the explosion. In a statement to the daily, he noted, “There was a huge explosion. We thought we were going to die. My concern was to get my daughter out. We were scared, then out of the dust came the fireman who took my daughter. He was a real hero, I can’t thank him enough. He saved my daughter’s life.”
He and his wife Jasbir, 30 have sought refuge in a nearby temple. The family are now staying with friends as firefighters and police investigate the cause of the blast.
