A 'Gas Explosion' Caused The Indian Restaurant Building Collapse In Singapore's Little India

Singapore authorities have ordered the closure of the Indian restaurant and an adjacent grocery store that collapsed on October 8, resulting in minor injuries to six persons.

On October 8, two shop units collapsed in Singapore's popular Little India precinct, which left six persons with minor injures. One of the shophouses was Paakashala Singapore, an Indian vegetarian restaurant, while the other was a grocery store, Nirja Mega Mart. The Singapore authorities suspect a "gas explosion" in the early hours of October 8 caused the buildings to collapse.    

"BCA was alerted to a suspected gas explosion incident where two 2-storey shophouse units at 84 & 85 Syed Alwi Road had partially collapsed...," the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) said in a Facebook post.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) also updated its October 8 post to say that their preliminary fire investigation indicated "a likely buildup of flammable gas" within the restaurant led to a blast and then partial collapse of the two units.

The incident took place on near Mustafa Centre, at about 1.30 am on October 8.

The SCDF also said they did not detect flammable gas readings on the site, while the BCA said its engineers assessed the structural integrity of the units and the buildings adjacent to them.

“The rear part of the two shophouse units have partially collapsed. The front façade and staircase of unit 84 were also damaged by the suspected explosion. The other adjacent buildings were not affected and are safe,” the BCA post added. 

BCA also said owners of the two units have been issued 'Dangerous Building' and 'Closure' orders, and asked to shut the premises. "They are also required to immediately appoint a PE (professional engineer) to advise on the immediate precautionary measures to obviate the danger, carry out detailed investigations and recommend permanent rectification measures to be carried out."

'It Was So Loud... Thought It Was A Bomb'  

The Straits Times reported that the site has been handed over to BCA who will work with the owners of the units and the PEs appointed by them.

Denise Phua, the Mayor of Central Singapore District (CDC), visited the scene to survey the damage, and in a post shared on Facebook praised the work done by SCDF, BCA, and other units.

Quoting her, the Straits Times report said the Central CDC would look into the incident. She also said that two passengers in Grab vehicles were "mildly affected", though they did not want any medical attention.

“It was so loud, I felt the floorboards shake. I thought it was a bomb or an explosion. I was terrified it might have been a terrorist attack,” the report quoted a Chinese tourist as saying as he recalled the incident. He was staying in a Hotel located behind the affected units.

Paakashala, a popular vegetarian restaurant chain from Bangalore, opened the Syed Alwi Road branch, its first in Singapore, in December 2023, according to its website. The restaurant has not issued any statement on the partial collapse of its building.