Singer Zubeen Garg Passes Away in Singapore Scuba Diving Accident

Popular Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, best known for lending his voice to the hit song Ya Ali from the 2006 film Gangster, tragically passed away in Singapore on Friday following a scuba diving accident.

According to reports, the singer was on a cruise with friends when he fell into the sea during the water activity. Although he was rushed to a nearby hospital, Garg is said to have suffered a heart attack and was declared dead at 1:10 pm (IST).

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the news later in the evening. He stated that the 52-year-old singer had drowned while swimming without a life jacket. Sarma also noted that Singaporean authorities are questioning those who had accompanied Garg at the time of the incident. "Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma further informed that Zubeen Garg's post-mortem examination will be conducted on Saturday," PTI reported.

The state was left in shock as news of Garg’s untimely demise spread rapidly. His death was officially confirmed earlier in the day by Assam Cabinet Minister Ashok Singhal.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on social media, writing: “Shocked by the sudden demise of popular singer Zubeen Garg. He will be remembered for his rich contribution to music. His renditions were very popular among people across all walks of life. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.”

Garg was in Singapore to attend the North East India Festival and was scheduled to perform on September 20, 2025. The festival organisers issued a statement expressing their grief over the loss of the iconic artist. "With profound grief, we share the heartbreaking news that our beloved icon, Zubeen Garg, passed away today at Singapore General Hospital around 2:30 PM. Zubeen had arrived in Singapore just the day before yesterday. He was scheduled to be with us at the festival tomorrow, meeting and interacting with people. Earlier today, our entire team was engaged in a business meeting with senior Singaporean industrialists and policymakers at the Shangri-La Hotel to facilitate investments in Northeast India," the statement read.

The organisers also clarified that they were not aware of Garg’s private yacht visit prior to the tragic accident. "Garg was reportedly learned that a few members of the local Assamese community had taken him on a yacht visit, 'of which we had no prior knowledge'," they explained.

Following the devastating news, the organisers announced the cancellation of the festival, saying: "On receiving the news, our team rushed immediately to the hospital and has since been working closely with the High Commission to complete the necessary procedures. This is a monumental loss, and words cannot express the depth of our grief. In light of this tragedy, we are cancelling the event. We are devastated and pray for the departed soul of Zubeen Garg."

The sudden passing of Zubeen Garg has left a deep void in India’s music industry, especially in the Northeast, where he was regarded not just as a singer but also as a cultural icon. Fans and admirers across the country continue to mourn the loss of an artist whose music transcended borders and generations.