Assam’s cultural icon Zubeen Garg died of accidental drowning: Singapore coroner

By Nava Thakuria*

Even as Assam Police arrested seven individuals on suspicion of their involvement in the alleged murder of musical icon in on 19 September last year, a in the island nation has ruled the death an . The city-state’s mainstream newspaper reported that the inquiry into the singer’s death—after he was found floating face down following a swim off in 2025—concluded it was accidental.

“Delivering his findings on March 25, said there was no reason to disagree with the Police Coast Guard’s investigation after analysing the evidence before him. A death certificate issued by the Singapore General Hospital listed the cause of death as drowning,” the report stated. It added that the popular singer “had consumed alcohol and refused a life vest before jumping off a yacht on Sept 19, 2025,” according to testimony by Assistant Superintendent of Police David Lim on the first day of the inquiry on January 14.

While his friends tried to persuade him to return to the yacht, he became motionless. He was pulled back onboard, where resuscitation efforts were attempted but proved unsuccessful. The vessel’s captain, who also testified on January 14, informed the court that Zubeen Garg and about 15 others had boarded the yacht at around 2 pm.

“The captain testified that he saw several passengers, including Mr Garg, drinking alcohol before boarding. He said the singer was so unsteady that his friends had to support him as he boarded the vessel. While onboard, he walked unsteadily and required assistance moving around. The captain’s assistant told the court that no one had forced Mr Garg to consume alcohol or enter the water,” the report noted, adding that all passengers had been informed about the necessity of wearing life jackets before swimming.

At around 2.30 pm, the group reached waters near Lazarus Island. Zubeen Garg initially wore a life jacket and jumped into the sea, but later removed it, saying it was too large. When he returned to the yacht, he needed help to climb back onboard and was breathing heavily. “It was apparent he was already exhausted by the short swim. I find the exhaustion was evident from the fact that he was unable to get onto the yacht himself and required assistance,” the coroner observed.

He later decided to join another man for a second swim towards Lazarus Island. Before re-entering the water, he was handed a smaller life jacket but refused to wear it. The coroner noted that the individual offering the life jacket made “commendable efforts” to ensure he wore it.

“Ultimately, his efforts were to no avail. Mr Garg steadfastly refused to wear, nor allow the man to put, the life jacket on him,” the coroner said. Zubeen Garg then began swimming alone towards Lazarus Island, with four others following after noticing he had no life jacket. “Having reviewed video evidence, his strokes resembled doggy paddling—indicative of fatigue,” the coroner added.

The singer likely lost consciousness, after which his face became submerged. Fellow swimmers rushed to assist, lifting his head above water. “I found the swimmers had assisted Mr Garg to the best of their abilities. There was no evidence to suggest his face had been deliberately held underwater,” the coroner stated. He also found no delay in administering first aid (CPR) or in transporting him to the mainland for medical attention.

The report, compiled by Andrew Wong and Claudia Tan, added that the singer’s death sparked outrage in Assam, where fans stormed the residence of his manager, , in . The protest turned violent, leading to clashes with police.

Following his death, investigators in India charged multiple individuals, including organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, with murder. Three of the singer’s associates—Siddhartha Sharma, Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta—were also charged in India.

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*Senior journalist based in Guwahati

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