Singapore Coroner Confirms Zubeen Garg Died by Accidental Drowning

The tragic demise of Zubeen Garg, the celebrated Assamese singer, has been officially declared as accidental drowning by a Singapore coroner. Garg passed away on September 19 while on a yacht trip in Singapore, just a day before he was scheduled to perform at the North East India Festival. A death certificate issued by Singapore authorities on September 20 confirmed drowning as the cause, which was further reinforced by subsequent reports in October and December. The coroner, Adam Nakhoda, stated that there was no reason to dispute the Police Coast Guard’s conclusion after reviewing all available evidence. Authorities noted that Garg was heavily intoxicated and had refused to wear a life jacket at the time of the incident. Despite these findings, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has publicly alleged that the singer’s death was a case of murder. Following the incident, seven people were arrested, and a Special Investigation Team filed a chargesheet accusing four of them of murder, including Garg’s manager, the festival organiser, and two accompanying musicians. Additionally, Garg’s cousin, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, faced charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, while two of his personal security officers were accused of criminal breach of trust. The investigation continues to draw attention due to conflicting statements from Singapore authorities and political figures in Assam.