Celebrated Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, known for his powerful voice and contributions to Indian music, died on September 19 following a scuba-diving accident in Singapore. He was 52.
Garg was in Singapore for the North East India Festival 2025. Organisers said he joined members of the local Assamese community for a yacht outing where he went scuba diving. He was rescued after falling into the sea and rushed to Singapore General Hospital but could not be revived.
Event manager Shyamkanu Mahanta confirmed the news, adding that the team is coordinating with the Indian High Commission to complete formalities. The festival event featuring Garg has been cancelled.
Born and educated in Assam, Garg completed his matriculation at Tamulpur Higher Secondary School, attended Karimganj College for higher secondary studies, and later enrolled at B Borooah College in Guwahati for a B.Sc. before leaving to pursue music full-time.
His decision shaped one of the most prolific music careers in the region. Garg recorded hundreds of Assamese songs, lent his voice to numerous Bollywood tracks, and achieved nationwide fame with Ya Ali from Gangster. In May 2024, the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM) awarded him an honorary Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.) for his contributions to music and culture.
Tributes have poured in from fans, colleagues, and political leaders, calling his death an irreparable loss for Indian music and Assamese culture.
