Singapore — New details have emerged in the death of Indian singer Zubeen Garg, who died in Singapore on September 19, 2025. A coroner's court heard on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, that the singer had a high blood alcohol level and declined to wear a life jacket before drowning off Lazarus Island.
Garg, 52, was in Singapore to perform at the North East India Festival. On the day of the incident, he was part of a yacht party with around 20 friends and colleagues. The group had snacks, drinks, and alcohol on board. Witnesses reported that Garg consumed multiple cups of liquor, gin, whiskey, and Guinness Stout.
According to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) David Lim, the police investigator, Garg jumped into the water but removed his life jacket shortly after, stating it was oversized and difficult to swim with. Despite reminders from friends, he refused to put it back on. Soon after, Garg became unwell and was seen struggling in the water. He then became motionless and floated face down, with witnesses reporting he was foaming at the mouth.
Garg was pulled back onto the yacht, and CPR was immediately administered. An emergency call was made at 3:36 pm, and the Police Coast Guard arrived in less than 10 minutes. They took over CPR and transported Garg to Singapore General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:13 pm.
A toxicology analysis revealed that Garg had a blood alcohol concentration of 333 milligrams per 100ml of blood, significantly higher than Singapore's legal limit of 80 milligrams per 100ml. This level of intoxication suggests severely impaired coordination and reflexes. Medications for hypertension and epilepsy were also found in his blood. A 750ml bottle of Scotch whisky, 25% full, was discovered in his hotel room.
The autopsy determined the cause of death to be drowning. Injuries found on his body were sustained during CPR and rescue attempts.
The Singapore Police Force has ruled out foul play and shared the autopsy report with the Indian High Commission. The incident has prompted intense speculation and grief in India. The Assam government ordered a second post-mortem, which confirmed that Garg's death was not caused by poisoning.
Zubeen Garg was a celebrated figure in the Assamese, Bengali, and Hindi music industries, with a career spanning over three decades. He recorded more than 38,000 songs in 40 languages and was revered as a cultural icon and philanthropist. His death has left a profound void in the music world and among his fans.
