Singapore, Jan 14: New details surrounding the death of renowned Assamese singer and cultural icon Zubeen Garg emerged on Tuesday during a coroner’s inquiry in Singapore, where a police officer testified that the artiste was severely intoxicated and not wearing a life jacket when he drowned in September 2025.
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| Zubeen Garg |
Assistant Superintendent of Police David Lim of the Police Coast Guard, appearing as the first witness before the court, stated that Garg had consumed alcohol before entering the water near Lazarus Island. According to his testimony, Garg jumped into the sea from a yacht and declined to wear a life vest, despite being advised to do so by those present.
The court was told that Garg’s friends repeatedly urged him to return to the yacht, but he continued swimming. At one point, he stopped moving and was later seen floating face down in the water. He was immediately pulled back onto the yacht, where his companions attempted to revive him before rushing him to hospital. However, he was pronounced dead on September 19, 2025, with drowning confirmed as the cause of death.
During the proceedings, the court was informed that Garg had been in Singapore to participate in the Northeast India Festival, organised by the Assamese community. Widely regarded as one of Assam’s most influential and beloved artistes, Garg’s sudden death sent shockwaves across Assam, the Northeast and other parts of India, with fans and cultural figures mourning the loss of a towering musical personality.
The coroner’s inquiry was attended by members of the public as well as Garg’s family members. The proceedings remain ongoing as the court continues to examine the circumstances and sequence of events that led to the singer’s death.
