Renowned Indian musician Zubeen Garg passed away on Friday, September 19, 2024, after a drowning incident in the waters of Singapore. The 52-year-old artist, celebrated for his Bollywood song “Ya Ali,” was in Singapore for a performance at the North East India Festival when the incident occurred.
Initial reports indicated that Garg was involved in scuba diving, but authorities later clarified that he was swimming at the time. According to DIVE Magazine, social media footage showed him jumping into the water wearing a life jacket. He returned to the boat shortly after, removing the life jacket because it was too large and hindered his swimming.
The incident happened during a yacht trip with 18 participants, including Garg, who had arranged the outing ahead of his festival performance scheduled for that evening. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed that witnesses saw Garg experiencing distress in the water before he was pulled out and administered CPR.
Singapore police rescued Garg from the ocean and transported him to Singapore General Hospital, where he was placed in intensive care. Despite medical efforts, he was pronounced dead around 2:30 p.m. local time. The Singapore High Commission issued a death certificate citing drowning as the official cause.
North East India Festival organizers announced Garg’s passing in an Instagram statement, revealing they were informed of the incident during a meeting at the Shangri-La Hotel. They noted that local Assamese community members had taken Garg on the yacht trip without their knowledge. Sarma stated, “This is a monumental loss, and words cannot express the depth of our grief.”
The three-day cultural festival, set to run from Friday through Sunday, was immediately canceled upon news of the singer’s death. Organizers expressed their sorrow and stated they would collaborate with the High Commission to arrange the repatriation of Garg’s body.
Garg gained national fame with his 2006 hit “Ya Ali” from the Bollywood film “Gangster,” which became a major success across India. Spanning over three decades, his career included recording thousands of songs in Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, Tamil, and Nepali. He won the Global Indian Film Award for best playback singer in 2006 for “Ya Ali.”
In addition to singing, Garg was a multi-talented artist who worked as a composer, music producer, actor, and film director. His other significant contributions to Bollywood included tracks like “Dil Tu Hi Bataa” from “Krrish 3” and “Jaane Kya Chahe Man” from “Pyaar Ke Side Effects.” He also directed and acted in several regional films, including “Kanchanjunga,” “Mission China,” “Dinabandhu,” and “Mon Jai.”
Born as Zubeen Borthakur in Assam, the singer was regarded as a cultural icon in India’s northeastern states. Assam Cabinet Minister Ashok Singhal described him as more than a singer, referring to him as the pride of Assam and the nation whose music conveyed the culture, emotions, and spirit of the region globally.
Following the news of his death, political leaders and celebrities paid tribute to Garg. Indian National Congress member Rahul Gandhi praised the singer’s voice as defining a generation and highlighted his unmatched talent. Gandhi emphasized how Garg overcame personal tragedies and reshaped the Assamese music landscape with perseverance and courage.
Sarma announced that Garg’s body would lie in state in Guwahati, Assam, for public tribute before cremation. The Assam Cabinet decided to construct memorials in Kamarkuchi village, where the cremation took place, and in Jorhat city, where his ashes were taken. The state government declared two days of mourning before the funeral services.
Garg’s sudden passing deeply affected India’s entertainment industry and his extensive fan base. Thousands gathered across Assam to mourn, with vigils reported in multiple cities. Social media platforms were filled with tributes, concert clips, and personal memories from fans expressing disbelief and grief over the loss of a voice synonymous with regional pride and cultural identity.
Investigations conducted in October and November 2025 revealed that the Singapore Police found no evidence of foul play in Zubeen Garg’s drowning. In a mid-October statement, they reported that early findings indicated an accidental death during a private swimming session. Meanwhile, in Assam, the state government announced on October 3 the launch of a judicial inquiry, to be led by Gauhati High Court’s Soumitra Saikia, into the events surrounding the tragedy. Officials also confirmed that several individuals linked to the matter remained in judicial custody through early November, with a chargesheet expected by December 17, 2025.