Six people were injured early Tuesday morning when two shophouses partially collapsed in the Little India precinct near Mustafa Centre. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) responded to an alert around 1:30 a.m. about the incident at 84 and 85 Syed Alwi Road, where the two-storey units were severely damaged.
Upon arriving at the scene, SCDF immediately launched a search operation to ensure no one was trapped under the debris. The team used two search dogs and a drone to assist in the operation. Additionally, firefighters rescued a person from the second floor of one of the damaged units using a ladder, as the staircase had become impassable.
Two individuals with minor injuries were taken to the hospital for further treatment, while four others with minor injuries declined hospitalization. The SCDF also deployed a firefighting machine as a precaution after reports indicated that a loud blast had been heard during the collapse. The machine used a water mist spray to disperse any potential buildup of flammable gases.
No one was found trapped under the rubble, the SCDF confirmed.
According to reports, the affected shophouses house Paakashala Singapore, an Indian vegetarian restaurant, at 84 Syed Alwi Road, and Nirja Mega Mart, a grocery retailer, at 85 Syed Alwi Road. Significant damage was observed at Paakashala, where wires were seen hanging from the ceiling, and the restaurant’s outdoor tent was severely bent out of shape.
