Indian Restaurant Building Collapses In Singapore’s Little India, 6 Injured

Two shophouses in Singapore's Little India partially collapsed, injuring six people. Firefighters rescued one person from the second floor of a building. The cause of the collapse is still unknown.

Singapore News: Six persons sustained injuries when two shophouses partially collapsed in the Little India precinct of Singapore Tuesday morning. The two two-storey units collapsed at 84 and 85 Syed Alwi Road, near the popular Mustafa shopping complex, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a Facebook post Tuesday said, adding that it was alerted about the incident at around 1.30 am.

Firefighters were able to rescue a man from the second floor of one of the affected shophouses (unit 84) using a ladder. This person was unable to come down because the staircase blocked, the SCDF said. 

"Upon arrival, SCDF immediately commenced a search of the area to ascertain if anyone was trapped under the debris," the SCDF said in the post, adding that they also pressed two search dogs and a drone to help with the search operation.

No one was found trapped under the debris of the collapsed units.

While two persons were given medical treatment for minor injuries and sent to the Singapore General Hospital and Tan Tock Seng Hospital, four others were also treated for minor injuries but did not have to be sent to hospital. There were no other reported injuries, according to the SCDF post.

With a passerby reporting that a loud blast was heard during the collapse, the SCDF said, a firefighting machine was deployed as a precautionary measure "to disperse any potential build up of flammable gases using its water mist spray function". 

SCDF was still at the scene when the update was posted at around 5.30 am.

Google Maps shows 84 Syed Alwi Road houses an Indian vegetarian restaurant, Paakashala Singapore, while No. 85 is Nirja Mega Mart, a retail store selling vegetables and groceries.

Images shared by the SCDF show one of the buildings, seemingly Paakashala, suffered significant damage.

The cause of the building collapse remains unknown.

Singapore’s Little India is a vibrant precinct filled with colourful streets, aromatic spices, and rich heritage. Known for its bustling markets, temples, and Indian eateries selling authentic fares, it offers a unique blend of South Asian traditions.