Saturday, March 29, 2025
Guwahati, September 21, 2025 – A massive crowd gathered outside the Guwahati residence of late singer Zubeen Garg on Sunday morning, hours before his final rites. The popular Assamese singer tragically lost his life while swimming without a life jacket during a yacht trip in Singapore.
Garg’s coffin arrived in Guwahati on Sunday morning, where it was received by his wife, Garima Saikia. Security personnel were deployed outside the singer’s home to manage the swelling number of fans who came to pay their respects.
On Saturday night, hundreds of supporters had assembled outside Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport to receive Garg’s mortal remains. According to PTI, the crowd turned restless, leading to a minor scuffle. Police were forced to carry out a mild baton charge to disperse the gathering.
The body was kept at his residence for about one and a half hours to allow family members to offer their last respects. Later, the coffin was moved to Arjun Bhogeshwar Barua Sports Complex, where the public could pay homage between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.
While final details of the funeral are yet to be decided, the Assam government will consult Garg’s family and cultural organizations. A special cabinet meeting scheduled for Sunday evening will determine the cremation site.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had personally traveled to Delhi to escort Garg’s body. At Indira Gandhi International Airport, he offered floral tributes alongside Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and senior Assam officials.
Speaking to reporters, Sarma revealed that Garg was on a yacht trip when the incident occurred. Though he initially wore a life jacket, he removed it moments later, saying it was too large and hampered his swimming. Shortly after, he was found floating in the sea. Lifeguards administered CPR and rushed him to Singapore General Hospital, where he was declared dead.
Singaporean authorities are currently questioning people who were present with the singer during the trip.
