Conflicting reports have emerged over the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of celebrated Assamese and Bollywood singer Zubeen Garg, who died in Singapore on Saturday. The 52-year-old artiste had been in the island nation to perform at the North East India Festival on 20 and 21 September.
Initial accounts suggested Garg died while scuba diving. A representative of the festival said, "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 deceased in the ICU around 2.30 pm IST," said Anuj Kumar Boruah.
However, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma offered a different version. "Zubeen died while swimming without a life jacket," he said, adding that Singapore authorities will question those who accompanied the singer.
Sarma cited a video showing Garg jumping into the sea from a yacht wearing a life jacket. "After the 1.26 mark in the video, Zubeen Garg can be seen returning to the yacht. According to reports, he jumped into the sea for the second time, but after taking off the life jacket, saying it was uncomfortable swimming with the life jacket on," Sarma said.
The singer was later found floating in the sea, unresponsive, and rushed to Singapore General Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead around 2:30 pm Indian time. An autopsy is scheduled.
Also read: Zubeen Garg dies in scuba diving accident in Singapore
Festival organisers also addressed the confusion, saying they were unaware of the yacht visit before the incident. Their statement read: "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. During the meeting, we received a call from Zubeen's manager informing us that he had met with an accident and had been rushed to Singapore General Hospital. We later learned that a few members of the local Assamese community had taken him on a yacht visit, of which we had no prior knowledge," the organisers added.
"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. Om Shanti. Shaymkanu Mahanta & Team," they concluded.
Garg, one of Assam's most celebrated cultural icons, had achieved nationwide fame with the hit track Ya Ali from the film Gangster, along with other popular songs including Dil Tu Hi Bataa from Krrish 3.
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