Celebrated Assamese singer and cultural icon Zubeen Garg died Friday afternoon in Singapore following a scuba diving accident. The 52-year-old artist was in the country serving as Cultural Brand Ambassador for the North East India Festival, where he was scheduled to perform on September 20 and 21.
According to Singapore police, Garg was rescued from the sea in an unconscious condition and rushed to Singapore General Hospital. Despite being placed under intensive care, doctors were unable to revive him. A festival representative stated that while scuba diving, Garg experienced breathing difficulties and was immediately given CPR before being transported to the hospital. He was declared dead in the intensive care unit around 2:30 p.m. Indian Standard Time on September 19, 2025.
The singer had traveled to Singapore specifically for the three-day North East Festival and had promoted the event on his Instagram account just days before his death. On September 16, he invited fans to attend, writing that he would be performing popular Hindi, Bengali and Assamese songs during the evening shows.
Garg rose to national prominence with his haunting rendition of “Ya Ali” from the 2006 Bollywood film “Gangster,” starring Emraan Hashmi and Kangana Ranaut. However, his artistic influence extended far beyond this single hit. Over his three-decade career, he recorded more than 38,000 songs across 40 languages and dialects, including Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, Tamil, Bodo, Nepali, Tiwa, Karbi, Bhojpuri and others.
Born in Tura, Meghalaya, in 1972, Garg began his professional music career in 1992 with his album “Anamika.” His work spanned multiple roles as singer, songwriter, composer, actor, filmmaker and philanthropist. Beyond playback singing for Bollywood films including “Krrish 3” and “Pyaar Ke Side Effects,” he acted in and directed several regional films such as “Kanchanjunga,” “Mission China,” “Dinabandhu” and “Mon Jai.”
The singer’s influence extended beyond entertainment into social and political causes. In January 2019, he penned a strong open letter to then-Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal opposing the Citizenship Amendment Bill. When mass protests erupted in December 2019 following the bill’s enactment, Garg joined demonstrations and addressed gatherings, demonstrating his willingness to use his platform for causes he believed in.
News of Garg’s death prompted immediate responses from political leaders across India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sadness over the sudden death, stating that Garg would be remembered for his rich contribution to music and that his renditions were popular among people from all walks of life. Union Home Minister Amit Shah noted that Garg mesmerized listeners for decades with his golden voice and wove threads of unity across the country with his timeless music.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed that an autopsy had been conducted in Singapore and arrangements were being made to bring the singer’s body home. Sarma stated that the remains would lie in state in the capital city of Guwahati for public tribute. “I am at a loss for words to describe what Zubeen meant for the state,” Sarma indicated, adding that future generations would remember him as a stalwart of Assam’s culture.
The announcement triggered an immediate outpouring of grief across Assam and the Northeast region. Large crowds gathered in cities throughout the state, with many openly weeping and embracing one another. Vigils were reported across multiple locations as fans struggled to process the loss of what many considered not just an entertainer, but a unifying cultural voice whose songs captured the joys and struggles of the region.
Tributes flooded social media platforms from fellow artists and political figures. Former Rajya Sabha MP Ripu Bora described Garg as a cultural icon whose voice, music and indomitable spirit inspired generations across Assam and beyond. Actor Adil Hussain expressed devastation and shock, noting that Garg’s contribution to Assamese music and culture was extraordinary and that he would live on through his songs.
Assam Cabinet Minister Ashok Singhal called Garg “the pride of Assam and the nation” whose songs carried the region’s culture, emotions and spirit to every corner of the world. Bollywood composers and singers including Vishal Dadlani, Harshdeep Kaur and Papon shared emotional tributes, with Dadlani describing Garg as someone who truly lived rock and roll and left a void that no one else could fill.
The state government is coordinating with the High Commission of India in Singapore for the repatriation of Garg’s remains. His death represents a significant loss not only to the music industry but to the cultural identity of Assam and India’s Northeast region, where he served as both an artistic pioneer and a voice for regional pride.