Zubeen Garg passes away at 52: Indian music industry in shock after Singapore scuba accident

Veteran singer Zubeen Garg — celebrated across Assam, Bollywood, and Bengali music circles — died on September 19, 2025, after a scuba-diving mishap in Singapore. The 52-year-old was in the city-state to attend the North East India Festival when the incident occurred; he was rescued and rushed to Singapore General Hospital, but could not be revived, organisers and hospital sources said.

According to the festival team and Garg’s event manager, the singer had arrived in Singapore only days earlier to perform at the two-day cultural event. Organisers say he joined members of the local Assamese community on a yacht visit and experienced breathing difficulties during a dive; CPR was administered before he was taken to the hospital, where he was declared dead in the afternoon. Festival representatives and the event manager are coordinating with the Indian High Commission on the next steps.

News of Garg’s sudden death triggered an outpouring of grief across the Indian film and music fraternity. Leading artists, actors, and colleagues expressed shock and sorrow on social platforms, describing his loss as a huge blow to regional and national music scenes. Industry peers noted his long career, versatility, and deep roots in Assamese culture that brought regional music to a wider audience.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi led official condolence messages, posting on X: “Shocked by the sudden demise of popular singer Zubeen Garg. He will be remembered for his rich contribution to music. His renditions were very popular among people across all walks of life. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.”

Several well-known actors and musicians also expressed sorrow and offered condolences on social platforms. Among those who paid tribute were Pritam (who collaborated with Garg on the song “Ya Ali”), Vishal Dadlani, Jeet Ganguly, rapper Badshah, actor Adil Hussain, singer Armaan Malik, Vishal Mishra, Papon, and Jubin Nautiyal, along with many peers from regional and national music scenes. Fans and colleagues described the loss as a huge blow to Assamese culture and to the wider Indian music community.

Zubeen Garg rose to national prominence with several memorable Hindi film songs while remaining a towering figure in Assamese music. Over a career spanning decades he recorded thousands of songs across multiple languages, worked as a composer and actor, and was widely regarded as an ambassador of North-East Indian culture on the national stage. His social-media posts in the days before the accident had reflected his excitement about representing the region at the Singapore festival.

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As fans and fellow artists mourn, festival organisers have cancelled upcoming appearances, and the cultural community is preparing to bring Garg’s body back to India and support his family with formalities. Further updates are expected from festival officials and the Indian High Commission as they work with Singapore authorities.