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Who was Zubeen Garg – the Assamese singer who died in a scuba accident in Singapore?

Minakshi Srivastava By
Calender Sep 20, 2025
Entertainment 3 min read

Who was Zubeen Garg – the Assamese singer who died in a scuba accident in Singapore?

The sudden demise of legendary Assamese singer Zubeen Garg has left an irreplaceable void in the world of music and among his millions of admirers. The 52-year-old singer, composer, actor, and cultural icon tragically lost his life in a scuba diving accident in Singapore on September 19, 2025. His death, which came just a day before his scheduled performance at the 4th North East India Festival, has sparked shockwaves across India and beyond.

As more details emerge, questions are being raised about the circumstances leading to his death. Allegations of criminal negligence against the festival’s event manager have already led to the filing of an FIR in Assam, intensifying the grief with controversy.

Zubeen Garg

FIR Filed Against Event Manager Over Alleged Negligence

According to reports, an FIR was lodged at Morigaon Police Station in Guwahati against Shyamkanu Mahanta, the event manager of the 4th North East India Festival. The complaint was filed by advocate Ratul Borah, who accused Shyamkanu of serious negligence that may have contributed to Zubeen’s untimely passing.

Borah claimed that Mahanta’s decision to involve the “Ya Ali” singer in what he described as a “poorly managed event” directly endangered the artist. Some local media outlets in the Northeast even reported allegations of foul play, further deepening suspicions surrounding the tragic incident.

The FIR, which includes charges of criminal negligence, cites unconfirmed media reports from Singapore suggesting that Zubeen had attended a party on the afternoon of September 19, before heading for a swim without a life jacket. It is believed that he suffered a heart attack in the water. Despite being rushed to Singapore General Hospital, doctors could not save him.

His mortal remains were scheduled for post-mortem in Singapore before being flown back to Assam on September 20, 2025, for the final rites.

Event Manager’s First Statement After Zubeen Garg’s Death

In the wake of the tragedy, event manager Shyamkanu Mahanta and his team issued a statement confirming the news. Mahanta revealed that the singer passed away at around 2:30 PM at Singapore General Hospital.

According to the organisers, Zubeen had faced breathing difficulties underwater before being given CPR and rushed to the hospital.

Speaking to NDTV, festival representative Anuj Kumar Borah explained that the team was busy with a high-level meeting with Singaporean policymakers and industrialists at the Shangri-La Hotel to promote investments in Northeast India when they received the call about Zubeen’s accident.

Their statement read:

“With profound grief, we share the heartbreaking news that our beloved icon, Zubeen Garg, passed away today at Singapore General Hospital around 2:30 PM. Zubeen had arrived in Singapore just the day before yesterday. He was scheduled to be with us at the festival tomorrow, meeting and interacting with people. Earlier today, our entire team was engaged in a business meeting with senior Singaporean industrialists and policymakers at the Shangri-La Hotel to facilitate investments in Northeast India.”

The organisers later clarified that it was members of the local Assamese community who had taken Zubeen on a yacht trip, and the festival organisers had no prior knowledge of this outing.

Autopsy in Singapore: Assam CM Confirms Details

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed on Saturday that the post-mortem of Zubeen Garg had been completed in Singapore.

On X, Sarma wrote:

“The post-mortem of our beloved Zubeen Garg has been completed in Singapore. His mortal remains are now being handed over to the accompanying team — Shekar Jothi Goswami, Sandeepan Garg, and Siddharth Sharma (Manager) — in the presence of officers from the Indian Embassy.”

According to information shared by Indian High Commissioner Shilpak Ambule, Zubeen had gone on a yacht trip with 17 others. He entered the sea without a life jacket despite warnings from crew members and guards. Initially, he wore the jacket but removed it, saying it was oversized and uncomfortable for swimming.

When Zubeen was later found floating unconscious, yacht crew members attempted to revive him. He was given CPR both at sea and again at the port, but by the time he was admitted to Singapore General Hospital, doctors declared him dead.

Sarma further confirmed that Singaporean authorities were questioning all individuals who accompanied Zubeen. His remains were expected to be flown first to Delhi and then to Guwahati, where they would be kept at Sarusajai Stadium for the public to pay their respects.

The CM stressed that the people of Assam deserved to know the truth about Zubeen’s final moments and assured that the state would request the Union Home Ministry’s assistance in ensuring accountability.

Assam and Nation Mourn Zubeen’s Death

The news of Zubeen Garg’s death plunged Assam into mourning. From Golaghat to Biswanath and Jorhat, thousands of fans poured onto the streets to pay homage.

In Biswanath, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) organised a candlelight march, with participants chanting emotional slogans like “Zubeen da amar houk” (Long live Zubeen) and “Joy Zubeen da” (Hail Zubeen). Local businesses shut down for 24 hours in solidarity.

In Golaghat and Jorhat, the grief was palpable, with people seen openly weeping and embracing one another.

CM Sarma described Zubeen’s passing as an “immense loss to the state and the nation.” In a heartfelt post, he wrote:

“Today Assam lost one of its favourite sons. I am at a loss for words to describe what Zubeen meant for the state. He has gone too early; this was not the age to go.”

He added:

“Zubeen’s voice had an unmatched ability to energise people, and his music spoke directly to our minds and souls. He has left a void that will never be filled.”

Last Video of Zubeen Goes Viral

A video that surfaced online shortly after his death shows Zubeen adjusting his life jacket before jumping into the sea. The clip has since gone viral, leaving fans devastated. Reports suggest that he fell ill soon after entering the water and was immediately rescued, but efforts to revive him failed.

Tributes Pour In From Across the Country

Condolences have come in from all quarters of India.

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote:

    “Shocked by the sudden demise of popular singer Zubeen Garg. He will be remembered for his rich contribution to music.”

  • Music composer Vishal Dadlani expressed:

    “I can’t believe this. My brain is in shock, my heart is shattered! #ZubeenGarg has left a void I don’t think anyone else can ever fill. He was a true megastar, a man of his people… If anyone really LIVED Rock and Roll, it was Zubeen.”

A Musical Journey That Transcended Borders

Zubeen Garg was not just a singer — he was an institution. In a career spanning over 30 years, he recorded more than 38,000 songs in over 40 languages, including Assamese, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, and Nepali.

His national breakthrough came with the unforgettable “Ya Ali” from the 2006 film Gangster, which won him the Global Indian Film Award for Best Playback Singer. Beyond playback singing, Zubeen was a lyricist, composer, actor, director, and multi-instrumentalist, skilled in playing 12 instruments, from the tabla and dhol to guitar and harmonium.

His music was more than entertainment — it was a bridge that connected Assamese culture with the rest of India.

Final Farewell

As his mortal remains make their journey back to Assam, the state and nation prepare to give Zubeen Garg a farewell worthy of a cultural icon. His last rites will be conducted with the participation of both his family and the people of Assam, reflecting his unique bond with the community.

The tragic and untimely death of Zubeen Garg is more than just the loss of an artist — it is the silencing of a voice that united millions and carried the essence of Assam to the world stage. Allegations of negligence and the ongoing investigation will take time to resolve, but what remains undeniable is the profound impact Zubeen had on Indian music and culture.

He leaves behind a legacy of love, music, and cultural pride that will inspire generations to come. His songs, his activism, and his larger-than-life presence will forever echo in the hearts of those who loved him.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies

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