In a heartbreaking development, renowned Assamese singer Zubeen Garg passed away at the age of 52 following a scuba diving accident in Singapore. Garg, who rose to national fame with the hit song “Ya Ali” from the 2006 Bollywood film Gangster, was in Singapore to perform at the 4th North East India Festival at Suntec on September 20.

According to reports, the accident occurred while he was scuba diving. Singapore police rescued Garg from the sea and rushed him to a nearby hospital. Despite receiving immediate medical attention, doctors were unable to revive him.

Born on November 18, 1972, in Tura, Meghalaya, Zubeen Garg was one of the most celebrated voices of Assam. A multi-talented artist, he composed music for Assamese, Bengali, and Hindi films and was widely regarded as Assam’s highest-paid singer.

His father, Mohini Borthakur, was a magistrate, lyricist, and poet who wrote under the pen name Kapil Thakur, while his mother, the late Ily Borthakur, was a singer.

Garg pursued his early education at Tamulpur Higher Secondary School and later enrolled in B. Borooah College for a Bachelor of Science degree, which he eventually left to focus on his music career. He moved to Mumbai in 1995 to pursue Bollywood playback singing, releasing his debut Indipop album Chandni Raat and several other albums such as Chanda, Shradhaanjali, Jalwa, and Yuhi Kabhi.

Over his decades-long career, Zubeen delivered multiple chart-topping tracks, including Dil Tu Hi Bataa from the Hrithik Roshan–Kangana Ranaut starrer Krrish 3.

In 2024, he was honored with an honorary Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.) degree by the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya.

Zubeen married fashion designer Garima Saikia in 2002. His personal life, however, was touched by tragedy when his younger sister, actress-singer Jongki Borthakur, passed away in a road accident in 2002.

As a tribute to his contributions to Assamese culture, a 20-foot-tall statue of Zubeen Garg was installed in Digboi Town, Assam, in 2022, unveiled by the singer himself during the Nazirating Tamuli Tourism Festival.

His sudden passing has left a void in India’s music industry, with fans, fellow musicians, and dignitaries expressing deep grief and paying tribute to his enduring legacy.