Guwahati (IANS): A Singapore court ended months of speculation on Wednesday, ruling that celebrated Assamese singer Zubeen Garg drowned off Lazarus Island last September.
State Coroner Adam Nakhoda concluded that the singer’s death was “an unfortunate and tragic drowning” following a detailed investigation by the Singapore Police Coast Guard, according to Singapore-based media reports.
Garg, a cultural icon of Assam, traveled to Singapore in September 2025 for the North East India Festival. He died on September 19, just one day before his scheduled performance.
Reports indicate that Garg joined a yacht trip and entered the waters near Lazarus Island. Witnesses told the court that Garg consumed alcohol before the incident. While he wore a life jacket during his first swim, he later removed it and refused to wear one during a second attempt to swim toward the island.
Despite his friends’ repeated pleas to return to the yacht, Garg became motionless in the water. The group pulled him back onboard, but revival attempts failed.
A toxicology report presented during the proceedings revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 333 mg per 100 ml, confirming significant alcohol consumption before he entered the water.
The court’s findings align with earlier observations by the Singapore Police Force, which ruled out foul play and attributed the death to drowning compounded by alcohol use and the refusal of a life vest.
Meanwhile, the case continues to carry legal ramifications in Assam. A Special Investigation Team has filed charges against several individuals, including event organizers and the singer’s associates, under various legal provisions.
Garg’s death triggered widespread grief across Assam, where lakhs of fans paid their last respects after his remains returned to Guwahati.
