Singapore coroner’s court probes Assamese singer Zubeen Garg’s death, police cite intoxication

Guwahati: Police testimony at a coroner’s court in Singapore on Wednesday said Assamese singer Zubeen Garg was heavily intoxicated and declined to wear a life vest shortly before he drowned while swimming near Lazarus Island in September 2025.

Assistant Superintendent of Police David Lim of the Police Coast Guard told the court that Garg, 53, had consumed alcohol and ignored safety advice before jumping from a yacht into the sea, according to proceedings reported by The Straits Times.

Lim stated that Garg’s friends repeatedly urged him to return to the yacht after he entered the water. During the swim, however, the singer suddenly stopped moving and was later seen floating face down.

The group pulled him back onto the yacht and attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation before rushing him to hospital. Doctors pronounced him dead on September 19, 2025, with drowning recorded as the cause of death, the court was told.

Police informed the inquiry that Garg had travelled to Singapore to attend the North East India Festival. Widely regarded as one of Assam’s most influential musicians, he enjoyed a strong fan base across the northeastern region.

ASP Lim appeared as the first witness in the ongoing coroner’s inquiry, which drew public attendance as well as the presence of the singer’s uncle and nephew. The court is continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding Garg’s death.