Renowned Indian singer Zubeen Garg died on Friday, September 20, 2024, following a drowning incident in Singapore waters. The 52-year-old musician, best known for his Bollywood hit “Ya Ali,” was in the country to perform at the North East India Festival when the fatal accident occurred.
Initial reports suggested Garg died during a scuba diving excursion, but authorities later clarified he was swimming when the incident happened. According to DIVE Magazine, footage posted on social media showed the singer jumping into the water wearing a life jacket before returning to the boat approximately one minute later to remove it, citing difficulty swimming due to the oversized jacket.
The incident occurred during a yacht trip with 18 people, including Garg, who had booked the excursion before his scheduled festival performance that evening. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed that witnesses observed Garg becoming unwell in the water before being pulled out and given CPR.
Singapore police rescued Garg from the ocean and transported him to Singapore General Hospital, where he was admitted to intensive care. Despite medical efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead around 2:30 p.m. local time. The Singapore High Commission issued a death certificate listing drowning as the official cause of death.
North East India Festival organizers announced Garg’s death in an Instagram statement, explaining they learned of the tragedy during a business meeting at the Shangri-La Hotel. The organizers noted that members of the local Assamese community had taken Garg on the yacht visit without their prior knowledge. Sarma stated, “This is a monumental loss, and words cannot express the depth of our grief.”
The three-day cultural festival, scheduled to run from Friday through Sunday, was immediately canceled following news of the singer’s death. Festival organizers expressed devastation over the loss and announced they would work closely with the High Commission to complete necessary procedures for repatriating Garg’s body.
Garg rose to national prominence with his 2006 recording of “Ya Ali” for the Bollywood film “Gangster,” which became a chartbuster across India. His career spanned more than three decades, during which he recorded thousands of songs in dozens of languages and dialects, including Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, Tamil and Nepali. He won the Global Indian Film Awards for best playback singer in 2006 for “Ya Ali.”
Beyond singing, Garg was a versatile artist who worked as a composer, music producer, actor and film director. His other notable Bollywood contributions included “Dil Tu Hi Bataa” from “Krrish 3” and “Jaane Kya Chahe Man” from “Pyaar Ke Side Effects.” He also directed and acted in several successful regional films, including “Kanchanjunga,” “Mission China,” “Dinabandhu” and “Mon Jai.”
Born Zubeen Borthakur in Assam, the singer was considered a cultural icon in India’s northeastern states. Assam Cabinet Minister Ashok Singhal described him as more than a singer, calling him the pride of Assam and the nation whose songs carried the region’s culture, emotions and spirit worldwide.
Political leaders and celebrities paid tribute to Garg following news of his death. Indian National Congress member Rahul Gandhi praised the singer’s voice as defining a generation and noted his unmatched talent. Gandhi highlighted how Garg overcame personal tragedies to reshape Assamese music landscape through his perseverance and courage.
Sarma announced that Garg’s body would lie in state in Guwahati for public tribute before cremation proceedings. The Assam Cabinet decided to build memorials in both Kamarkuchi village, where the cremation took place, and in Jorhat city, where his ashes were taken. The state government declared two days of mourning leading up to the funeral services.
Garg’s sudden death sent shockwaves through India’s entertainment industry and among his massive fan base. Thousands of people gathered across Assam to mourn the loss, with vigils reported in multiple cities. Social media platforms were flooded with tributes, concert clips and personal remembrances from fans expressing disbelief and grief over losing a voice that had become synonymous with regional pride and cultural identity.
