Assamese singer Zubeen Garg has passed away following a tragic scuba diving incident in Singapore. According to reports, he was rescued by the police from the sea and rushed to the hospital, after which he was pronounced dead. He was 52.
Zubeen was in Singapore to attend the North East festival and was set to perform on September 20. A representative of the festival confirmed the news of his death to NDTV. “While scuba diving, he experienced breathing difficulties and was immediately given CPR before being rushed to Singapore General Hospital. Despite efforts to save him, he was declared deceased in the ICU around 2.30 pm IST,” said the official.
His sudden death has left his fans shocked and tributes started pouring in from Assam and beyond.
Ashok Singhal, Health and Family Welfare Minister of Assam paid his tributes to the singer and wrote on X, “Zubeen da was more than a singer, he was the pride of Assam and the nation, whose songs carried our culture, our emotions, and our spirit to every corner of the world. In his music, generations found joy, solace, and identity. His passing leaves behind a void that can never be filled. Assam has lost its dearest son, and India has lost one of its finest cultural icons. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and countless fans. May his soul find eternal peace, and may his legacy continue to inspire forever. Om Shanti.”
Zubeen was known for his work in films and music across Assamese and Hindi films. He shot to fame with the song, ‘Ya Ali’ from Emraan Hashmi’s Gangster (2005) and has given his vocals to tracks like, ‘Dil Tu Hi Bataa’ from Krrish 3 (2013), ‘Yeh Kaisi Jagah’ from Hamari Adhuri Kahani (2015), and more recently in ‘Roothoon’ from Who Bhi Din The (2024).
