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Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
President Tharman meets migrant workers who saved driver of car that fell into sinkhole
SINGAPORE – The workers who saved a woman from a sinkhole in Tanjong Katong Road South said they were glad to have helped a family get their loved one home safely. Speaking to the media at the Istana on Aug 3, construction site foreman Pitchai Udaiyappan Subbiah said that the successful rescue of a life was the most rewarding thing from the incident. 'Because of us, a family is safe and happy, (which) makes us very glad,' Mr Subbiah, 46, said in Tamil. 'The recognition we have received is more than enough.' Mr Subbiah and six other men had pulled out the woman, the driver of a black car that had fallen into the sinkhole, using a nylon rope. The car the woman was driving had tumbled in at about 5pm on July 26, when a sinkhole formed at the junction of Tanjong Katong Road South and Mountbatten Road, near the One Amber condominium. The seven workers and their project manager, all of whom work for Ohin Construction, were invited by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to the Istana's National Day open house on Aug 3. Chatting with the workers outside his office, Mr Tharman was overheard saying: 'You saved her life, thank you.' Mr Tharman and Mrs Jane Ittogi Shanmugaratnam also met 11 men involved in a rescue during a fire at a River Valley shophouse in April. Using scaffolding from a nearby construction site, the workers had rescued children who were stranded on a third-storey ledge because of the blaze. Mr Subbiah was among thousands of people who explored the Istana grounds during the open house to celebrate the nation's 60th birthday. The slight rain in the middle of the day did not stop visitors from strolling through the wooded landscape and enjoying its expansive lawns. Among the activities on offer were face painting, inclusive sports like seated volleyball, and arts and crafts. There were about 12,000 visitors as at noon. Mr Subbiah, who has worked in Singapore for 22 years, said he was happy to explore the Istana as he had, till now, seen it only from the outside. He previously saw Mr Tharman in 2005 at a community event in Teban Gardens, and was happy to meet the President as his invited guest. Another of the seven involved in the sinkhole rescue, excavator operator Sathapillai Rajendran, told reporters that he hopes more people will step forward to help others in times of need. 'I'm just very happy she is okay,' said the 56-year-old. The other five workers were Mr Anbazhagan Velmurugan and Mr Bose Ajithkumar, both 26; Mr Poomalai Saravanan, 28; Mr Ganesan Veerasekar, 32; and Mr Arumugam Chandirasekaran, 47. Mr Tharman wished the workers well, and thanked them for their heroic acts. After the interaction, each of the workers received a memento of their visit to the Istana. The memento – a pen bearing the presidential crest – is typically given to guests of the president as a keepsake for them to remember their visit, said the President's Office. Following the sinkhole incident, migrant worker support organisation ItsRainingRaincoats launched a fund-raiser for the workers involved in the rescue. It received more than $72,000 in public donations, which it will divide among the workers. The organisation said it will hold a small gathering at its Henderson Road premises on Aug 10 to honour the workers, and to announce the disbursement of the funds raised to their bank accounts. ItsRainingRaincoats had previously raised funds for the men who saved the children from the River Valley fire. Each of the 15 workers received around $3,770 of the $57,660 collected. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
Hindustan Times
01-08-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Who are the 7 Indian workers Singapore President invited after sinkhole rescue?
Singapore President to meet Indian workers who rescued woman from sinkhole The workers will attend the Istana Open House on Sunday, 3 August, along with other guests.(@itsrainingraincoats/ Instagram) The seven Indian migrant workers who rescued a woman from a car that fell into a sinkhole in Singapore last Saturday have been invited to meet President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the Istana presidential palace. The workers will attend the Istana Open House on Sunday, 3 August, along with other guests, Channel News Asia reported. Who are the workers invited for the honour? Those invited are site foreman Pitchai Udaiyappan Subbiah, 47, and his co-workers Velmurugan Muthusamy, 27, Poomalai Saravanan, 28, Ganesan Veerasekar, 32, Bose Ajithkumar, 26, Narayanasamy Mayakrishnan, 25, and Sathapillai Rajendran, 56. The incident took place near a Public Utilities Board worksite on Tanjong Katong Road South, where a 16-metre-deep shaft was being constructed to link three sewer lines. Around 5.50 pm on Saturday, a concrete part inside the shaft failed, according to the national water agency. A sinkhole formed on the nearby road, and a car fell in. Also Read: Donations pour in for 7 Indians who saved woman from sinkhole, Singapore President to host migrant workers | Details Workers praised for saving woman from sinkhole Subbiah and his colleagues used a rope to pull the woman out of the car within minutes. Their actions have been praised widely, including by President Tharman. The president wrote on Facebook, 'Bravo. Thanks to the migrant workers led by foreman Pitchai Udaiyappan Subbiah. They moved quickly and with courage.' The President's Office said, 'There will be opportunities for interaction between the guests, including the migrant workers and the president, during the Istana open house.' 1,639 donors raise SGD72K for migrant workers: IRR So far, 1,639 donors have raised SGD72,241 for the workers, according to a Facebook post by Its Raining Raincoats (IRR), a local charity that supports migrant workers. 'Thank you, Singapore, for your overwhelming kindness and generosity to the brave sinkhole rescue migrant worker heroes,' IRR wrote. The group added that the funds will be shared between the seven men and sent to their bank accounts. 'We will be hosting a meet and greet with these workers as soon as we are able to arrange it,' IRR said. Workers honoured with ACE Coin for community support The Ministry of Manpower's Assurance, Care and Engagement Group has also commended the men. Each worker received the ACE Coin, which is given to migrant workers and volunteers who support the community. 'It is also awarded to migrant workers who demonstrate courage, initiative, or public spiritedness in times of need,' the ministry said. (With inputs from PTI)
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Heroic rescue: 7 Indians in Singapore pull woman from 3ft sinkhole; act opens debate on migrant workers' rights
Image X@/JohnCremeansX Seven Indian migrant workers who rescued a woman from a car trapped in a sinkhole in Singapore last Saturday have been invited to meet President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the Istana presidential palace, reports PTI. The Singapore president's Office has extended an invitation to the workers to attend the Istana Open House on Sunday, August 3, along with other guests, as per Channel News Asia. — JohnCremeansX (@JohnCremeansX) "There will be opportunities for interaction between the guests, including the migrant workers, and the president during the Istana open house," said the president's office. The seven migrant workers are site foreman Pitchai Udaiyappan Subbiah, 47, and his co-workers Velmurugan Muthusamy, 27, Poomalai Saravanan, 28, Ganesan Veerasekar, 32, Bose Ajithkumar, 26, Narayanasamy Mayakrishnan, 25, and Sathapillai Rajendran, 56. The sinkhole had originally appeared along the Tanjong Katong Road South, along Singapore's east coast, next to a Public Utilities Board (PUB) worksite where a 16-metre-deep shaft is being built to connect three sewer lines. A concrete component within the shaft 'failed' around 5.50 pm last Saturday and led to the formation of the sinkhole, causing the car to plunge into it. Subbiah and his fellow workers acted swiftly, using a rope to rescue the woman within minutes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New South Wales Pensioners Are Eligible For Invisible Hearing Aids Best Hearing Aids Learn More Undo Their quick response has earned widespread praise, including recognition from President Tharman for their bravery. "Bravo! Thanks to the migrant workers led by foreman Pitchai Udaiyappan Subbiah. They moved quickly and with courage," Tharman said through a Facebook post. The incident has led to the workers receiving praise from the Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Association, Care and Engagement (ACE) Group. Each of the workers was awarded the ACE Coin, a "token of appreciation" given to migrant worker volunteers and partners who have made significant contributions to supporting and caring for the migrant worker community. "I was scared, but every feeling [sic] was that this woman must be rescued first," Subbiah later told reporters, as per BBC. The post, which has since gone viral on social media, has garnered praise but also raised concerns regarding the condition of the 'migrant' workers. Singapore does not have a minimum wage for migrant workers, which, according to advocacy groups, means some earn as little as S$300 ($233) per month. Many live in overcrowded dormitories, typically located far from residential neighborhoods. Migrant workers also reportedly face exploitation by their employers and recruitment agencies while they have to work excessively long hours and in poor living conditions, as per the BBC.
Mint
31-07-2025
- General
- Mint
Who are the 7 Indians Singapore President invited after they rescued woman from sinkhole? All about them
Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has invited the seven Indian migrant workers who saved a woman driver from a sinkhole. They have been invited to the Istana presidential palace on August 3. The Indian workers who have been invited to the presidential palace are: Pitchai Udaiyappan Subbiah, 47, and his co-workers Velmurugan Muthusamy, 27, Poomalai Saravanan, 28, Ganesan Veerasekar, 32, Bose Ajithkumar, 26, Narayanasamy Mayakrishnan, 25, and Sathapillai Rajendran, 56. Pitchai Udaiyappan Subbiah is a site foreman whose quick thinking saved the woman. Pitchai Udaiyappan Subbiah and his colleagues were working at a PUB worksite near the One Amber condominium when the incident happened. The migrant workers heard a loud sound and rushed out of the site to see a massive sinkhole on Tanjong Katong Road South. They also saw a black car which had fallen into the sinkhole and a woman trying to come out of it. A concrete component in the shaft "failed" at around 5.50 pm last Saturday, according to the national water agency. Around the same time, a sinkhole formed on the adjacent road, causing a car to fall in. Subbiah then instructed three of his colleagues to throw a nylon rope to the woman and pull her out. One of them offered to go in and help her climb, but Subbiah opted for the rope, reasoning that the rescuer might not be able to get out either. The woman was out of the sinkhole in three-five minutes. Meanwhile, 1,639 donors have contributed SGD72,241 for the seven heroes, according to a Facebook page of the ItsRainingRaincoats (IRR), a Singapore charity. Also Read | Sinkhole swallows whole PMC truck in Pune's Budwar Peth, netizens react: 'Space technology' The President's Office said, 'There will be opportunities for interaction between the guests - including the migrant workers – and the president during the Istana open house.' The workers have been commended by the Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) Assurance, Care and Engagement (ACE) Group, a division that aims to support migrant workers' well-being. The ACE Coin, given to each of the workers, is a "token of appreciation" presented to migrant worker volunteers and partners who have made meaningful contributions towards supporting and caring for the migrant worker community.
Malay Mail
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Migrant workers who rescued driver from Singapore's Tanjong Katong sinkhole invited to Istana open house
SINGAPORE, July 31 — The seven migrant workers who helped rescue a woman from a sinkhole along Tanjong Katong Road South have been invited to meet President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the Istana. According to CNA, the President's Office said it had invited the workers, along with other guests, to the Istana open house this Sunday. The workers are site foreman Pitchai Udaiyappan Subbiah, 47, 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 said. The incident occurred last Saturday when a sinkhole opened up near an active PUB construction site, where workers were building a 16-metre-deep shaft to connect three sewer lines. According to the national water agency, a concrete component in the shaft failed around 5.50pm, causing a nearby section of road to collapse and a car to fall in. Subbiah and his team quickly jumped into action, using a rope to pull the woman to safety within minutes. Their swift response has drawn widespread praise, including from President Tharman. 'Bravo! Thanks to the migrant workers led by foreman Pitchai Udaiyappan Subbiah. They moved quickly and with courage,' he said in a Facebook post. On the same evening, all seven men were awarded a Friends of ACE appreciation coin by Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash. The token — named after the Ministry of Manpower's Assurance, Care and Engagement (ACE) Group — is given to migrant workers who show public-spiritedness, courage or initiative during emergencies. While some on social media questioned whether the coin alone was sufficient recognition, the ministry said it welcomed public feedback and was encouraged by calls for more ways to honour the workers. Meanwhile, migrant worker charity ItsRainingRaincoats said on Wednesday it had reached its donation campaign target of S$70,000 (RM230,000) for the seven men. The campaign raised S$72,241 from 1,639 donors. The funds will be divided among the workers and transferred to their bank accounts.
