NEW DELHI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday led tributes to celebrated singer Zubeen Garg, who died in a scuba diving accident in Singapore at the age of 52. “Today Assam lost one of its favourite sons. I am in a loss of words to describe what Zubeen meant for Assam. He has gone too early, this was not an age to go,” Sarma said in a post on X, remembering him as a cultural stalwart whose “magical voice has forever gone silent.” The singer was rescued by Singapore police after the accident and taken to a nearby hospital. Despite intensive medical care, doctors could not revive him. Zubeen was in Singapore to attend the North East Festival, where he was scheduled to perform on September 20.His death has left fans and the Assamese community in shock. Tributes poured in across social media, with Sarma adding that Garg’s “voice had an unmatched ability to energise people and his music spoke directly to our minds and souls.”Former Rajya Sabha MP Ripun Bora called him “a cultural icon whose indomitable spirit inspired generations,” while actor Adil Hussain said he was “devastated and shocked” by the news, describing Garg’s contribution to Assamese music and culture as “extraordinary.” Zubeen, known for his versatility across Assamese, Hindi, and Bengali music, was one of the most prominent cultural figures from the Northeast. His sudden demise has created what admirers described as an “irreplaceable void” in India’s music industry.
