(DDM) – Popular Indian singer and cultural icon Zubeen Garg has died in a scuba-diving accident in Singapore at the age of 52.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Garg was in Singapore for the Northeast India Festival when he suffered a medical emergency while swimming.
According to reports, he was pulled out of the water by Singapore police and rushed to hospital but could not be saved.
His death was confirmed by Ashok Singhal, a minister in his home state of Assam, who called Garg “the pride of Assam and the nation.”
Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, described the tragedy as a devastating blow to the state and its people.
Sarma revealed that an autopsy had been carried out in Singapore and that arrangements were being made to repatriate Garg’s body.
“Today Assam lost one of its favourite sons,” he declared, adding that Garg’s remains would lie in state in Guwahati for public tribute.
The chief minister said he was at a loss for words to capture what Garg meant to Assam and Indian music.
“This was not the age to go,” Sarma lamented. “Zubeen’s voice had an unmatched ability to energise people, and his music spoke directly to our minds and souls.”
He added that future generations would remember Garg as a stalwart of Assamese culture, and his works would continue to inspire young artists.
Across Assam, news of Garg’s death sparked vigils and spontaneous gatherings of grieving fans.
Large crowds were reported in cities, with mourners openly weeping, lighting candles, and embracing one another in sorrow.
Garg was one of the most recognisable voices from India’s northeast, with a career spanning more than three decades.
He recorded in over 40 languages and dialects, earning widespread acclaim for his versatility and artistry.
Nationally, he rose to prominence with Ya Ali from the 2006 Bollywood film Gangster, which became one of the most celebrated songs of the decade.
Beyond Bollywood, Garg built a vast body of work that included film soundtracks, independent albums, acting, and live stage performances.
He was especially revered in Assam, where his music often drew on regional identity, folklore, and cultural pride.
Analysts note that his ability to bridge Bollywood stardom with deep cultural roots made him a unique figure in Indian music.
Fans describe him not only as an artist but as a movement, one who gave India’s northeast a global voice.
Tributes poured in from across India, with political leaders, artists, and ordinary citizens paying homage to his legacy.
Observers say his death leaves a void in both Bollywood and regional music that will be difficult to fill.
For Assam, the loss of Zubeen Garg is more than a celebrity tragedy.
It represents the passing of a cultural torchbearer whose music and life embodied the dreams of millions.
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