Assamese Singer Zubeen Garg dies at 52 in Singapore scuba diving accident

Accident Details

According to official reports, Garg was participating in a yacht trip with members of the local Assamese community in Singapore when the incident occurred. During the scuba diving activity, he experienced breathing difficulties and was found floating in the sea. Lifeguards immediately administered CPR before rushing him to Singapore General Hospital, but medical efforts to revive him proved unsuccessful.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma revealed that Garg had removed his life jacket during the swimming session, despite warnings from lifeguards. "After a few seconds, he took it off, claiming that it was oversized and he was finding it difficult to swim," Sarma explained.

Festival Cancelled

The singer had traveled to Singapore as a Cultural Brand Ambassador for the North East India Festival, where he was scheduled to perform on September 20-21. Following his untimely death, festival organizers cancelled the entire event, describing it as "a monumental loss".

In his final social media post just hours before the tragedy, Garg had invited fans to attend the festival, saying, "See you there, I'll be performing, I'll be talking to you and I'll be there with you".

National Mourning

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed shock at the sudden demise, stating on X: "He will be remembered for his rich contribution to music. His renditions were very popular among people across all walks of life. Condolences to his family and admirers".

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma described the loss as devastating: "Today Assam lost one of its favourite sons. Zubeen's voice had an unmatched ability to energise people and future generations will remember him as a stalwart of Assam's culture".

Musical Legacy

Born as Zubeen Borthakur in 1972 in Meghalaya's Tura, the versatile artist recorded over 38,000 songs in 40 different languages during his three-decade career. While he reigned as the voice of Assam in regional music, his national breakthrough came with "Ya Ali," which made him a household name across India.

The singer's mortal remains will be brought back to Assam after completion of formalities and post-mortem examination in Singapore. Plans are underway to keep his body at Sarusajai Stadium for public tribute before final rites.

Zubeen Garg's sudden passing marks the end of an era for Northeast Indian music, leaving an irreplaceable void in the cultural landscape of the region and the nation.