A 50-year-old Hindu priest suffered burns and a lower back injury and was taken to Singapore General Hospital, while another priest in his mid-30s who sprained his ankle was sent to nearby Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. -- ST PHOTO: AIDAH RAUF
A HINDU priest in his 50s hurt his back after he jumped from a temple's second floor window to escape a fire on Sunday afternoon.
He was among a group of about 8 who escaped after the fire broke out at the Sree Maha Mariamman temple in Yishun.
He suffered burns and a lower back injury and was taken to Singapore General Hospital, while another priest in his mid-30s who sprained his ankle was sent to nearby Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.
The 80-year-old temple's first ever fire was confined to the kitchen and laundry rooms, which are on the first floor facing Yishun Junior College.
Freelancer, Ms M. Vinodhini, 30, a resident from a neighbouring HDB block, said the smoke was very thick and rose as high as '10 to 12 storeys'.
As the temple was not open to the public at the time, the priests were resting in the bedroom right above the kitchen area.
