Popular Assamese singer Zubeen Garg died in a freak accident in Singapore. He was 52.
The singer died after sustaining injuries in a scuba diving accident. Although he was rescued from the sea and taken to the nearby hospital, the doctors were unable to save him.
Garg had gone on a yacht trip with a few members of the local Assamese community when an accident occurred.
Zubeen Garg, a singer, songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, renowned especially in Assamese, Bengali, and Bollywood, was in Singapore for the North East Festival. He was scheduled to perform at the festival on Friday.
"It is with deep sadness that we share the news of Zubeen Garg's passing. While scuba diving, he experienced breathing difficulties and was immediately given CPR before being rushed to Singapore General Hospital. Despite efforts to save him, he was declared dead in the ICU around 2.30 pm IST," a statement issued by organisers of the North East Festival said.
Widely regarded as a cultural icon in Assam, the death has shocked his fans. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said he received the news from Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita. "It is a very painful news and an immense loss to the state and the nation," Sarma said on the sidelines of a programme.
"Assam has lost not just a voice, but a heartbeat. Zubeen da was more than a singer, he was the pride of Assam and the nation, whose songs carried our culture, our emotions, and our spirit to every corner of the world," wrote Assam minister Ashok Singhal.
His voice, music, and indomitable spirit inspired generations across Assam and beyond, wrote former Rajya Sabha member Ripun Bora.
"There was never an artist like Zubeen Garg for Assam, and there never will be. He was the voice of our youth, the pride that made people from other states say, ‘Oh, you are from the land of Zubeen Garg.’," wrote a fan.