Popular Indian singer Zubeen Garg dies at 52 after medical emergency during scuba dive in Singapore

Indian singer Zubeen Garg, 52, died Friday in Singapore after suffering a medical emergency while scuba diving in Bukit Merah, his team said. Garg, born Borthakur, experienced breathing difficulties and received CPR on site before being rushed to Singapore General Hospital, where he was declared dead in the intensive care unit around 2:30 p.m. IST.

Garg had been scheduled to perform at the Northeast India Festival in Suntec City on Saturday, festival director Shaymkanu Mahanta said in a statement. He noted that a few members of the local Assamese community had taken Garg on a yacht visit without prior knowledge of the organizers, and the event was cancelled in light of the tragedy.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in a Sunday press conference that Garg's death certificate lists drowning, though the post-mortem report had not yet been completed. The death certificate’s causal designation followed the medical emergency Garg experienced during the dive.

Thousands of fans and well-wishers gathered at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday to pay their respects to the Joddha actor. Sarma said Garg would be laid to rest after a state mourning period, and a memorial would be built on a 10-bigha land parcel in Hatimura, Kamarkuchi NC Village.

Modi offered condolences, saying he was shocked by Garg’s sudden passing and praising his contributions to music and his popularity across diverse audiences. In a tribute posted on social media, Modi said Garg’s renditions were well-loved and that he would be remembered for his rich musical contributions. Rahul Gandhi also paid tribute, calling Garg’s voice defining of a generation and praising his resilience and impact on Assamese music, noting that his work will live on in the hearts of fans.

During a four-decade career, Garg became one of Assam’s most celebrated talents and a familiar name in Indian cinema. He performed the signature song Ya Ali in Anurag Basu’s Gangster: A Love Story (2006), which helped launch him into Bollywood prominence. He sang in more than 40 languages and played 12 instruments, including the drums, guitar, harmonica, mandolin, keyboard, and tabla. He founded the Kalaguru Artiste Foundation and is credited with recording more than 38,000 songs across various languages. His popularity extended beyond film, as he amassed millions of listeners on streaming platforms and remained a prolific presence in regional music and cinema.

Garg’s career spanned decades, and he released his debut studio album Anamika in 1992, at the age of 19. He became known as the jewel of Assam for his wide-ranging contributions to regional music and his ability to cross linguistic and cultural boundaries within the Indian entertainment landscape. At the time of his passing, Garg had two films slated for release, Homework and Roi Roi Binale, signaling that his prolific output would continue to influence audiences in the region and beyond.