Liputan6.com, Jakarta Sad news has engulfed the Indian music industry after legendary Assamese singer Zubeen Garg reportedly passed away on September 19, 2025, in Singapore, after a tragic scuba diving accident.
Zubeen Garg's sudden passing shocked many, especially his fans across Assam and the Indian music community.
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He was in Singapore to attend the Northeast India Festival, where he was scheduled to perform on September 20 and 21.
The incident has prompted a wave of condolences from various prominent figures, including the Prime Minister of India and the Chief Minister of Assam.
“Deeply saddened by the untimely demise of our beloved Zubeen Garg. Assam has lost not just a voice, but a heartbeat. Zubeen da was more than a singer, he was the pride of Assam and the nation, whose songs carried our culture, our emotions, and our spirit to every corner of the world,” the minister posted on Twitter (now X).
Zubeen Garg's Tragic Accident in Singapore
Zubeen Garg suffered a fatal scuba diving accident in Singaporean waters.
The incident happened while he was enjoying his dive when he suddenly experienced breathing difficulties underwater.
Initial reports suggested that Zubeen Garg may have suffered a heart attack or seizure, which led to acute respiratory distress.
Despite CPR and intensive care in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Singapore General Hospital, Zubeen Garg's life could not be saved.
He was pronounced dead at around 2:30 PM IST (5:14 PM Singapore time), leaving his family and millions of fans in deep mourning.
Assam Cabinet Minister Ashok Singhal also confirmed the sad news on social media, emphasizing the immense loss felt by the state.
Profile of Music Legend Zubeen Garg
Zubeen Garg, whose birth name was Zubeen Borthakur, was born on November 18, 1971, in Jorhat, Assam, or November 18, 1972, in Tura, Meghalaya.
His name, taken from the renowned composer Zubin Mehta.
He came from a family of artists; His father, Mohini Borthakur, was a lyricist and poet under the pen name Kapil Thakur.
His mother, Ily Borthakur, was a dancer, actress, and singer who also served as his first music teacher, instilling in him a love of the arts.
Zubeen Garg's formal education began at Tamulpur Higher Secondary School and continued at Karimganj College.
Although he briefly pursued a Bachelor of Science degree at B. Borooah College, he decided to drop out to pursue his passion for music full-time.
Zubeen Garg began singing at the age of three and studied tabla for 11 years under the guidance of Pandit Robin Banerjee.
Guru Ramani Rai later introduced him to the richness of Assamese folk music, forming his diverse musical foundation.
Zubeen Garg's Multitalented Career
Zubeen Garg is known as a multitalented artist who excels not only as a singer but also as a songwriter, composer, director, and actor.
He has sung over 32,000 songs in over 40 languages and dialects, including Assamese, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Kannada, and Nepali.
His skills as a multi-instrumentalist are also commendable, mastering 12 instruments such as the anandalahari, dhol, dotara, drums, guitar, harmonica, harmonium, mandolin, keyboard, tabla, and various percussion instruments.
In Bollywood, Zubeen Garg achieved widespread popularity with the hit song "Ya Ali" from the film Gangster (2006).
He has also lent his voice to other major films such as Dil Se (1998), Fiza (2000), and "Dil Tu Hi Bataa" from Krrish 3.
His acting and directing career began with the Assamese film Hiya Diya Niya (2000), for which he also composed music.
Other films he has starred in include Mon Jai (2008), Mission China (2017), and Kanchanjangha (2019), which he also directed and produced.
In 2005, he even received a National Award for the film Dinabandhu.
Awards and Personal Life
Zubeen Garg is widely considered one of the most influential musicians in Assam and is the highest-paid singer in the region.
Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards for his outstanding contribution to Indian music and cinema.
In his personal life, Zubeen Garg married Garima Saikia, a fashion designer, on February 4, 2002.
He is known for his unique outlook on life, declaring himself non-religious and non-caste or religious, reflecting his inclusive attitude.
In addition to his artistic career, Zubeen Garg is also active in philanthropy.
He is involved with various charitable organizations focused on AIDS and brain cancer, demonstrating his concern for social and health issues.
As of 2024, Zubeen Garg's net worth is estimated to be around $8 million.