Singapore President to Host Indian Workers Honoured for Heroic Sinkhole Rescue
Seven Indian migrant workers in Singapore have been invited to the presidential palace by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam after they heroically rescued a woman from her car when it fell into a sinkhole. The workers, led by foreman Pitchai Udaiyappan Subbiah, acted swiftly to pull the driver to safety, earning widespread praise for their bravery and public-spiritedness. In addition to the official recognition, a public fundraising campaign for the men has raised over SGD 72,000.
Unpacked:
The sinkhole formed after a concrete component in a 16-meter-deep sewer shaft under construction failed, causing the ground to collapse at around 5:50 pm. This incident occurred adjacent to a PUB worksite at Tanjong Katong Road South, and the collapse caused a car to fall into the resulting hole.
The rescued woman was taken to the hospital by the Singapore Civil Defence Force. As of the latest update, she is able to walk and remains under observation for further check-ups. No other occupants were in the car at the time of the incident.
Besides the invitation to the presidential palace, the seven migrant workers were awarded the 'Friends of ACE' appreciation coin by the Ministry of Manpower’s Assurance, Care and Engagement (ACE) Group. Additionally, a public fundraising campaign has raised over SGD 72,000 for them.
The accident led to the closure of the affected road and a review by the Land Transport Authority, PUB, and the Building and Construction Authority. PUB has paused similar sewer shaft construction projects across Singapore while investigations into the cause and safety protocols are ongoing.