Singer Zubeen Garg dies in scuba diving accident in Singapore

GUWAHATI: Popular Assamese singer and cultural icon Zubeen Garg passed away in Singapore on Friday following a scuba diving accident. The 52-year-old artist, known across India for his song "Ya Ali" from the 2006 film Gangster, was in the Southeast Asian country to attend the North East Festival.

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Festival organisers confirmed the tragic news, saying Garg experienced breathing difficulties underwater before being rushed to Singapore General Hospital. Despite being administered CPR and emergency treatment, he was declared dead in the intensive care unit around 2:30 pm IST.

"It is with deep sadness that we share the news of Zubeen Garg's passing," the organisers said in a statement. "He faced difficulties while diving and, despite the best efforts of doctors, could not be saved." Garg is survived by his wife.

Born on November 18, 1972, into a family steeped in music and culture, Garg was the son of a bureaucrat father and a mother who was also a singer. His musical journey began at the age of three and blossomed into a prolific career covering multiple genres and languages.

His debut Assamese album Anamika, released in 1992, continues to remain popular in the state. The following year, he recorded his first songs "Tumi Junu Pariba Hun" and "Tumi Junaki Hubakh" for the album Ritu. He went on to release a string of hit albums including Xapunor Xur, Junaki Mon, Maya and Asha.

His first Bihu album Ujan Pirit also became a commercial success before he moved to Mumbai in 1995.

In Bollywood, Garg initially made waves with the solo album Chandni Raat and later sang playback for films such as Dil Se, Fiza, Kaante, Zindagi, and Doli Saja Ke Rakhna. However, it was “Ya Ali” from Gangster that catapulted him to nationwide fame and earned him the Global Indian Film Award (GIFA) for Best Playback Singer in 2006.