The popular Assam singer Zubeen Garg, who was known for his ‘or Ali’ song, died in Singapore on Friday “while swimming in the sea without a life jacket”.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that according to the High Commissioner of India in Singapore, Garg, who had gone on a boat trip with 17 others, died “while swimming in the sea without a life jacket”.
Initially, the organizers of the North East India Festival (NEIF), in which the singer had to participate, said in a statement that the singer died during scuba diving.
A statement issued by NEIF organizers said, “We are sharing the news of Zubeen Garg’s death with deep grief. During the scuba diving, he suffered breathing and he was immediately given CPR, after which he was taken to Singapore General Hospital. Despite all efforts to save him, he was declared dead in the ICU at around 2.30 pm, despite all efforts to save him.
However, shortly after the statement, NEIF chief organizer Shyamakanu Mahant said that Zubeen had gone on a boat journey with some members of the local Assamese community, when a “accident” occurred, in which he lost his life.
Meanwhile, an audio recording of his wife Garima Garg went viral on social media, allegedly claimed that her husband had gone to the sea with people from the Assamese community and had difficulty in breathing while swimming and was rushed to the hospital where she died.
However, the veracity of the audio clip could not be confirmed independently by PTI.
According to the report by The Straits Times in Singapore, the police said that they received a call for assistance at the island of St. John’s at 3.30 pm. He said that a 52 -year -old man was rushed to the hospital in a state of unconsciousness, where he later died. According to the report, there is no possibility of any kind of disturbance.
Mahant told PTI on phone from the island country that Zubeen had reached Singapore on Wednesday and “He was to stay with us at the festival yesterday, meet people and talk.”
He said that the entire team of NEIF was busy with senior Singapuri industrialists and policy makers at a hotel with the entire team of NEIF to facilitate investment in North Eastern India.
Mahanta said, “During the meeting, we got a call from the manager of Zubine, stating that he had an accident and was taken to Singapore General Hospital. Later we came to know that some people from the local Assamese community had taken him on a boat, which we had no information already.”
The three -day festival, which was about to begin on Friday, was canceled after this tragedy.
Garg, 52, enchanted both the youth and the elderly with his songs and films for about three decades, who had a universal appeal. Singer, musician, film director and actor, Zubine are credited with singing in more than 40 languages and dialects.
Nevertheless, the film was Gangster’s song ‘or Ali’ which gave him fame across the country and won him the best playback singer in the Global Indian Film Awards (GIFA) in 2006.
Singers, who started singing from the age of three, were an ideal for many generations of children and youth, who grew up singing or humming their songs.
Whether it is popular Assamese or Western, folk or classical music -based song, Garg gave his voice to various styles of music and excelled in all, and most singers of the latter years followed his music and singing style.
Some popular songs of Garg are ‘Anamika’ (displayed in their first Assamese albums), ‘Monor Nizanot’, ‘Maya’, ‘Asha’ and ‘Majulir Ageoni Suwali’.
Garg never hesitated to express his opinion on political and social issues. Many fan clubs of Zubine Garg have been established in every corner of Assam in the last few years.
As soon as the news of his death spread, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister Amit Shah and Sarbananda Sonowal, CM Sarma as well as celebrities from various cultural disciplines expressed their deep condolences to Zubeen’s family.
The Prime Minister wrote on ‘X’, “I am shocked by the sudden demise of popular singer Zubeen Garg. He will be remembered for his rich contribution to music.”
He said, “His presentations were very popular among people from all fields. My condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti.”
Sarma said that Garg’s death is a huge loss for the state and the nation.
Gandhi said, “Zubeen Garg’s death is a terrible tragedy. His voice defined a generation and his talent was really unmatched.”
Shah said that his death has born a void which will never be filled. Shah wrote on ‘X’, “It was deeply saddened to know about the demise of a reputed singer, musician and film figure Zubine Garg ji from Assam.”
Assam Congress President and Lok Sabha MP from Jorhat, Gaurav Gogoi, from where the singers used to condole Garg’s death and described him as “the pride of every Assam”.
Actor Adil Hussain, musicians Papon, Vishal Mishra, Armaan Malik and Pritam have also mourned his death.
People across Assam took to the streets, condoling the death of the singer. From his residence in Guwahati to his native city of Jorhat and his in -laws in Golaghat, people of various classes and age groups gathered to mourn the demise of their beloved ‘Zubeen Da’ (as he was popularly called).