'Ya Ali’ singer Zubeen Garg dies in Singapore scuba diving accident

Acclaimed Assamese singer Zubeen Garg has died in Singapore after suffering a heart attack while scuba diving, Indian media report.

The 52-year-old artist died following a heart attack while scuba diving on Friday, a day before his scheduled performance at a cultural festival in Singapore, Hindustan Times reports.

Zubeen, who rose to fame with his hit track Ya Ali, was on a cruise with friends when he fell ill.
He was rushed to a hospital but was subsequently declared dead by doctors.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the news, citing a phone call from Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita.
“There are no words to describe the loss. Assam has lost an invaluable treasure,” he is quoted as saying by Hindustan Times. Zubeen was due to perform with his band at the Northeast Festival in Singapore, which is being held from Sep 19 to 21.

The chief minister added that the state government will soon announce plans for a formal farewell to the celebrated singer.

Zubeen was widely regarded as one of the most versatile musicians from northeast India, performing in more than 10 languages and contributing to over 100 films. While his work spanned genres and regions, Assamese -- his mother tongue -- and Hindi defined much of his career.

He achieved nationwide recognition in 2006 with the Bollywood hit "Ya Ali" from the film Gangster. The song, blending Sufi, pop and rock influences, became one of the decade’s most celebrated tracks and cemented his place in the Indian music industry.

Beyond Hindi cinema, Zubeen was a cultural icon in Assam, often described as a fearless voice for Assamese identity.
The Northeast Festival in Singapore, where he had been scheduled to perform with his band, runs from 19 to 21 September.