A Singaporean coroner has officially concluded that the tragic drowning of renowned Indian singer-composer Zubeen Garg was accidental, finding no evidence of criminal involvement. The 52-year-old cultural icon from Assam died on September 19th last year while swimming during a yacht excursion off Singapore’s coast, where he had traveled to perform at a cultural festival.
The coroner’s investigation revealed that Garg was significantly intoxicated at the time of the incident, with forensic reports indicating his blood alcohol levels exceeded four times the legal drink-driving limit. According to the official report, this impairment likely affected his judgment, leading him to remove his life jacket during his initial swim and not wearing it when he re-entered the water.
During his second swim, Garg lost consciousness and his face became submerged. Other yacht occupants immediately noticed his distress and provided assistance, lifting his head above water. The coroner found no delays in administering first aid or transporting him to medical facilities.
The singer’s death had sparked widespread mourning and controversy in his home state of Assam, where he was celebrated for his powerful voice and diverse repertoire spanning 40 languages across his 33-year career. Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had previously called the death ‘plain and simple murder,’ though no evidence supporting this claim has been presented. Despite the coroner’s findings, seven individuals arrested in connection with the case remain in custody, with four facing murder charges.