'Ya Ali' fame singer Zubeen Garg dies at 52 after scuba diving accident in Singapore

Renowned singer and cultural icon Zubeen Garg, best known for the soulful track Ya Ali from Gangster (2006), passed away on Friday at the age of 52 after a tragic scuba diving accident in Singapore.

A Sudden Loss

According to reports, Zubeen was participating in a scuba diving activity when he fell unconscious in the sea. Though he was rescued and rushed to the ICU, doctors could not save him. The singer was scheduled to perform at the North East Festival in Singapore later in the day.

Assam and India in Mourning

Confirming his demise, Assam Cabinet Minister Ashok Singhal expressed grief on social media:

“Deeply saddened by the untimely demise of our beloved Zubeen Garg. Assam has lost not just a voice, but a heartbeat. Zubeen da was more than a singer; he was the pride of Assam and the nation.”

The minister added that generations found joy, solace, and identity in his music, calling his passing an irreplaceable loss.

The Journey of Zubeen Garg

Born in Meghalaya in 1972 as Zubeen Borthakur, he adopted his stage name in the 1990s by replacing his surname with his gotra, Garg. Rising to fame in Assam during the early ’90s, his career reached national stardom with Ya Ali, which became one of the biggest chartbusters of its time.

Over the years, Zubeen lent his voice to hits like Subah Subah and Kya Raaz Hai, while singing in more than 40 languages, including Assamese, Bengali, and Hindi. He remained Assam’s highest-paid singer for many years and was revered as one of the region’s greatest cultural icons.

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A Voice That Will Echo Forever

With his untimely death, India has lost not just a singer but a storyteller whose songs carried emotions, identity, and pride across generations. His legacy will continue to inspire forever.