Indian singer’s drowning was accidental - Singapore coroner

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Nikita Yadav

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Hindustan Times via Getty Images

Zubeen Garg died last September in Singapore, where he had gone to perform at a cultural festival

Indian singer-composer Zubeen Garg’s drowning last year in Singapore was accidental and there is no evidence of foul play, a coroner’s inquiry has found.

Garg, 52, died on 19 September after drowning in the sea off Singapore’s coast. The inquiry report says he was intoxicated at the time of the incident.

The singer’s sudden death sparked anger and distress among millions of fans in his home state Assam, and set off a wave of mourning.

It also became a politically charged issue, with Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma calling it “plain and simple murder”. He hasn’t offered any evidence to support his allegation, but seven people arrested in connection with the case remain in custody.

Police in Assam have charged four of them, including Garg’s manager, with murder. All seven have denied any wrongdoing.

On Wednesday, Singapore coroner Adam Nakhoda said that “there was no reason to disagree with the Police Coast Guard’s conclusion that there was no foul play” and that Garg’s death was “simply due to an unfortunate and tragic accidental drowning”.

The singer had travelled to Singapore to perform at a programme scheduled for 20 September. A day before that, he went out on a yacht with a group of people. During the outing, he entered the sea twice to swim.

According to the coroner’s report, Garg had consumed alcohol, which likely “impaired his judgement” and he removed his life jacket during his first swim and did not wear it when he went into the water again.

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During his second time in the water, Garg “lost consciousness and his face became submerged in water”, the report added.

Others on the yacht noticed and immediately swam towards him, lifting his head above the water. The coroner found no evidence of any delay in administering first aid to Garg or taking him to a hospital.

A forensic report cited in the inquiry says his alcohol levels were more than four times higher than the accepted limit for drink-driving.

Chief Minister Sarma has not reacted to the report yet.

Garg was a cultural icon in Assam and sang in more than 40 languages and dialects in a career spanning 33 years. He was known for his powerful voice, moving easily between romantic ballads and more sombre songs.

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