Guwahati: Thousands of grieving fans gathered in Guwahati on Sunday to pay their final respects to legendary Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, who passed away on September 19 in a scuba diving accident in Singapore. The 52-year-old singer had travelled to Singapore to perform at the North East India Festival scheduled for September 20 and 21.

Garg’s mortal remains arrived at Guwahati airport from Delhi in the morning, where airport staff and passengers broke down in tears as the coffin was received.

Soon after, a sea of fans lined the streets, many with tears in their eyes, to witness his final journey. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared an emotional video on X (formerly Twitter) showing how thousands turned up to bid farewell, with some fans singing his most iconic songs.

Assam CM Sarma also revealed details of the accident, stating that Garg died while swimming without a life jacket. “Singapore authorities will question those who had accompanied him for swimming,” Sarma said.

He added that video evidence showed Garg jumping into the sea with a life jacket initially but later removing it, calling it uncomfortable, before jumping in again.

The singer’s mortal remains will first be kept at his Kahilipara residence for about one and a half hours to allow family members, including his ailing 85-year-old father, to offer their last respects. Later, the body will be taken to the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex, where the public can pay homage between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Zubeen Garg, celebrated for his versatility and soulful voice, had mesmerised audiences for over three decades, recording more than 38,000 songs across 40 languages and dialects.

His passing marks the end of an era in Indian music, leaving an irreplaceable void in the hearts of millions.