Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam will formally honour seven Indian migrant workers whose quick and courageous actions helped save a woman trapped in a sinkhole. The incident occurred last Saturday along Tanjong Katong Road South, where a car suddenly plunged into a sinkhole that formed near an active construction site. The seven men acted swiftly and pulled the woman to safety using a rope.
The workers—Pitchai Udaiyappan Subbiah, Velmurugan Muthusamy, Poomalai Saravanan, Ganesan Veerasekar, Bose Ajithkumar, Narayanasamy Mayakrishnan, and Sathapillai Rajendran—have been invited to the prestigious Istana Open House on Sunday, August 3. They will meet President Shanmugaratnam at the Istana, the official residence and office of the Singapore head of state.
According to the President’s Office, the event will give guests, including the migrant workers, a chance to interact personally with the president. This invitation has been seen as a gesture of national appreciation for the workers’ bravery and quick thinking during the emergency.
What caused the sinkhole that led to the rescue?
The national water agency, the Public Utilities Board (PUB), reported that a concrete shaft component failed at about 5:50 pm, leading to the road collapse and the formation of the sinkhole. The site was part of a project to link three sewer lines via a 16-metre-deep shaft. Fortunately, no lives were lost, thanks to the timely response of the workers.
The men’s heroic act has also moved the Singapore public. Over 1,600 donors contributed SGD72,241 through a fundraiser organized by ItsRainingRaincoats (IRR), a local nonprofit that supports the migrant worker community. The funds will be equally distributed to the workers, and the charity has announced plans to host a meet-and-greet with them soon.
In a social media post, President Tharman also commended the workers’ bravery, writing, “Bravo! Thanks to the migrant workers led by foreman Pitchai Udaiyappan Subbiah. They moved quickly and with courage.”
The Ministry of Manpower’s Assurance, Care and Engagement (ACE) Group also recognised the men by awarding each of them the ACE Coin—a token given to individuals who demonstrate courage, public spiritedness, or initiative, especially within the migrant worker community. While there has been some online debate about whether a coin is a sufficient reward, the ministry welcomed public feedback and encouraged more ways of recognising such acts.
The workers’ actions have sparked a broader conversation about how migrant workers are perceived and treated in Singapore. Their recognition by both the state and civil society highlights the valuable contributions migrant communities continue to make, not just in labour but in safeguarding public safety and well-being.
As Singapore prepares to welcome these heroes to the Istana, the event stands as a reminder of the strength of unity, compassion, and the impact of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.