A wave of shock and grief has swept across Assam following the tragic death of its immensely popular singer, Zubeen Garg. The youth icon, cherished by millions, passed away on Friday, September 19, 2025, in Singapore after a scuba diving accident, as confirmed by the organizers of a festival he was slated to attend.
Zubeen Garg was 52 years old and is survived by his beloved wife.
Reports indicate that Garg suffered injuries during the scuba diving activity. He was immediately rushed to a local hospital, where medical teams battled to save him. However, he tragically succumbed to his injuries in the intensive care unit while undergoing treatment.
The beloved singer had traveled to Singapore to perform at the three-day North East Festival, an event eagerly anticipated by many, which was also set to commence on Friday.
A statement from the North East Festival organizers conveyed their profound sorrow: “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 heroic efforts to save him, he was tragically declared dead in the ICU around 2:30 PM IST.”
Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, expressed his shock upon receiving the devastating news from Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita.
During a program, Chief Minister Sarma articulated the widespread sorrow, stating, “This is incredibly painful news and an immeasurable loss not just for our state, but for the entire nation.”
He further shared his grief on X (formerly Twitter), lamenting, “Today Assam lost one of its favorite sons. I am at a complete loss for words to describe the profound impact Zubeen had on our state. He has left us far too soon; this was not his time to go.”