Singapore President To Host 7 Indian Migrant Workers Who Rescued Woman From Sinkhole

Last Updated:July 31, 2025, 08:34 IST

The President's Office has extended an invitation to these Indian workers, alongside other guests, to attend the Istana Open House on Sunday, August 3.

A car plunged into a large, water-filled sinkhole in Singapore on July 26. (Image: X)

Seven Indian migrant workers, who rescued a woman driver from a car trapped in a sinkhole in Singapore last Saturday, have been invited to meet President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the Istana presidential palace.

The President’s Office has extended an invitation to these Indian workers, alongside other guests, to attend the Istana Open House on Sunday, August 3.

The workers include — site foreman Pitchai Udaiyappan Subbiah (47), and his colleagues Velmurugan Muthusamy (27), Poomalai Saravanan (28), Ganesan Veerasekar (32), Bose Ajithkumar (26), Narayanasamy Mayakrishnan (25), and Sathapillai Rajendran (56).

“There will be opportunities for interaction between the guests — including the migrant workers—and the president during the Istana open house," the President’s Office stated.

Meanwhile, 1,639 donors have contributed SGD72,241 for the seven heroes, according to a Facebook page of ItsRainingRaincoats (IRR), a Singapore charity dedicated to supporting migrant workers.

“Thank you, Singapore, for your overwhelming kindness and generosity to the brave migrant worker heroes of the sinkhole rescue!" IRR said on its Facebook page. It was also informed that the funds raised will be divided among the workers and transferred to their bank accounts.

Indian Migrant Workers Help Singapore Woman

An Indian migrant worker helped rescue a woman who fell into a sinkhole in Singapore. The sinkhole, which appeared along Tanjong Katong Road South, was filled with water, leading to the formation of the sinkhole on the adjacent road and causing a car to fall in.

Site foreman Pitchai Udaiyappan Subbiah was among the first to notice that a car had plunged into the sinkhole. He immediately rushed to help the car’s occupant.

Subbiah, a 46-year-old site foreman with Ohin Construction, said he heard a sudden sound and saw the sinkhole forming. Realising that a car had gone down the hole, he instructed three of his workers to toss down a nylon rope.

Subbiah’s quick thinking, along with his fellow workers, enabled them to rescue the woman with a rope within minutes. Their actions have garnered widespread praise, including acknowledgment from President Tharman.

“Bravo! Thanks to the migrant workers led by foreman Pitchai Udaiyappan Subbiah. They acted quickly and with courage," President Tharman said in a Facebook post on Sunday evening.

The Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) Assurance, Care and Engagement (ACE) Group, which supports migrant workers’ well-being, has also commended the workers. In fact, each worker received the ACE Coin, a token of appreciation given to migrant worker volunteers and partners who have made meaningful contributions to supporting and caring for the migrant worker community.

(With agency inputs)

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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d...

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