Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has shared an update about the mortal remains of late singer Zubeen Garg, who died at 52 in Singapore on Friday. Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, he said that Zubeen’s post-mortem will be conducted in Singapore, after which his “mortal remains will be handed over to Indian authorities.” In another tweet, he said that his mortal remains will be kept at Sarusajai, Guwahati, for fans “to pay their last tributes.”
Himanta shared that the post-mortem will end by 11.30 am IST (2 pm SGT). “Singaporean authorities have confirmed that a post mortem of our beloved Zubeen Garg will be conducted. We expect this to conclude by 2 PM SGT. Thereafter his mortal remains will be handed over to Indian authorities and we shall begin the process of bringing him home. Shall keep all of you posted.”
Earlier, he had said, “I am in constant touch with the High Commissioner of India HE Dr Shilpak Ambule. We are coordinating to ensure beloved Zubeen’s mortal remains return to Assam at the earliest. As soon as the process is firmed up, I will share an update. @HCI_Singapore.”
According to reports, Zubeen met with a fatal accident during a scuba diving session. What was supposed to be a lighthearted outing turned tragic when he was rescued and rushed to Singapore General Hospital, where doctors were unable to revive him.
Event Manager’s First Official Statement
Zubeen’s event manager shared an emotional statement following the news of his untimely demise:
“With profound grief, we share the heartbreaking news that our beloved icon, Zubeen Garg, passed away today at Singapore General Hospital around 2:30 PM. Zubeen had arrived in Singapore just the day before yesterday. He was scheduled to be with us at the festival tomorrow, meeting and interacting with people. Earlier today, our entire team was engaged in a business meeting with senior Singaporean industrialists and policymakers at the Shangri-La Hotel to facilitate investments in Northeast India.”
How the Team Learned About the Accident
Shedding light on the sequence of events, the manager revealed that during the business meeting, they received a call informing them that Zubeen had met with an accident and was being treated at the hospital. Later, they learned that he had been invited for a yacht visit by members of the local Assamese community — a plan the team was unaware of.
The event team immediately rushed to the hospital and is now coordinating with the Indian High Commission and Singaporean authorities to complete formalities for repatriating his mortal remains.
Nation Mourns the Loss
Zubeen Garg’s sudden passing has left his fans and the music fraternity in shock. Celebrities and political leaders alike have expressed their condolences.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted a heartfelt message on X (formerly Twitter):
“Shocked by the sudden demise of popular singer Zubeen Garg. He will be remembered for his rich contribution to music. His renditions were very popular among people across all walks of life. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.”
