Zubeen Garg, 'Ya Ali' singer from film Gangster, dies in scuba diving accident in Singapore

Acclaimed Assamese singer and composer Zubeen Garg has reportedly died following a tragic accident in Singapore, where he was attending the 4th North East India Festival.

Garg is survived by his wife.

Garg sustained injuries during scuba diving, and was rushed to a hospital, where he died at the intensive care unit while undergoing treatment.

He had gone to Singapore to participate in the three-day North East Festival which was scheduled to begin on Friday.

"It is with deep sadness that we share the news of Zubeen Garg's passing. While scuba diving, he experienced breathing difficulties and was immediately given CPR before being rushed to Singapore General Hospital.

Despite efforts to save him, he was declared dead in the ICU around 2.30 pm IST," a statement issued by organisers of the North East Festival said.

Reacting to the development, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said he received the news from Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita.

"It is a very painful news and an immense loss to the state and the nation," Sarma said on the sidelines of a programme.

In an X post, he said, “Today Assam lost one of its favourite sons. I am in a loss of words to describe what Zubeen meant for the state. He has gone too early, this was not an age to go.”

শব্দ আজি নিজেই নিজত আবদ্ধ

Today Assam lost one of its favourite sons. I am in a loss of words to describe what Zubeen meant for Assam. He has gone too early, this was not an age to go.

Zubeen's voice had an unmatched ability to energise people and his music spoke directly to…

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) September 19, 2025

Assam Health and Family Welfare Minister Ashok Singhal paid tribute to the singer on social media, writing: "Deeply saddened by the untimely demise of our beloved Zubeen Garg. Assam has lost not just a voice, but a heartbeat.

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…

— Ashok Singhal (@TheAshokSinghal) September 19, 2025

Zubeen Garg had shared a video on September 16 via his official Instagram handle, announcing his participation in the North East India Festival in Singapore. Fans were excited to see him represent Assamese and Indian culture on an international stage.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Zubeen Garg (@zubeen.garg)

A multifaceted artist, Zubeen Garg was best known nationally for his Bollywood hit “Ya Ali” from the film Gangster (2006), while in Assam and across the Northeast, he was a cultural icon celebrated for his decades of contribution to music, cinema and activism.