Guwahati, Sept 19: The organisers of the Northeast Festival in Singapore have announced the cancellation of the event following the sudden death of Assamese music icon Zubeen Garg. The 52-year-old singer passed away on September 19 after suffering seizures while swimming during a yacht trip.
Festival curator Shyamkanu Mahanta and his team, who had been preparing for Garg’s participation, were in the middle of business meetings with Singaporean industrialists and policymakers at the Shangri-La Hotel when they received the tragic news. The discussions were focused on promoting investment in Northeast India, with sessions on tourism and trade scheduled for September 20.
According to organisers, Garg had arrived in Singapore two days earlier and was slated to perform at the festival. However, he was taken on an unplanned yacht outing by members of the local Assamese community. During the trip, he reportedly went for a second swim, suffered seizures, and despite CPR and emergency medical care, was declared dead around 2:30 p.m. local time.
“This is a monumental loss, and words cannot express the depth of our grief. In light of this tragedy, we are cancelling the event. We are devastated and pray for the departed soul of Zubeen Garg,” the organisers said in a statement, adding that they were working with the Indian High Commission in Singapore to complete formalities.
Meanwhile, in Assam, an FIR has been filed in Marigaon against festival curator Shyamkanu Mahanta, Garg’s manager, and another individual. The complaint, lodged by advocate Ratul Bora, has sought legal action over the circumstances surrounding the singer’s death.
Also Read: Born in Tura, Meghalaya, Assam’s celebrated singer touched every heart
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