By News Karnataka Editorial Team
Copyright newskarnataka
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday announced that a second postmortem of singer Zubeen Garg’s body will be conducted at a government hospital in Guwahati on Tuesday. The decision comes following demands from a section of people who raised questions surrounding the circumstances of the singer’s death in Singapore.
Call for a second autopsy
Garg, 52, lost his life in a tragic scuba diving accident in Singapore on 19 September, where he had gone to perform at the North East India Festival scheduled for the following day. While Singapore authorities had already conducted a postmortem and confirmed drowning as the cause of death, several admirers and local organisations in Assam urged for a second autopsy in India for greater transparency.
Chief Minister Sarma confirmed that the government respected these sentiments and would facilitate the medical examination at a designated hospital in Guwahati. He added that the state administration was committed to ensuring there was no ambiguity regarding the untimely demise of the singer, who is considered a cultural icon of Assam.
Mortal remains in Guwahati
Zubeen Garg’s mortal remains were flown back to Guwahati on Sunday and placed at the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex for the public to pay their final respects. Thousands of fans queued through the night to catch a last glimpse of the singer, with many breaking down at the sight of his glass casket draped with a traditional Assamese gamosa.
The scale of public mourning was so large that the Limca Book of Records recognised the gathering as one of the biggest public funerals in history, placing it alongside global memorials for Michael Jackson, Pope Francis, and Queen Elizabeth II.
Funeral arrangements
The Chief Minister also said that Garg’s final journey to the cremation site will take place on Tuesday morning. Personnel of the Assam Police will carry his coffin, accord a gun salute, and priests will conduct the last rites before Garg is consigned to flames. His wife, Garima Saikia Garg, and other family members will lead the final rituals.
Remembering the icon
Known for his versatility in music, Zubeen Garg had composed and sung in Assamese, Hindi, Bengali and several other languages over his decades-long career. His songs, which blended modernity with tradition, made him one of the most celebrated artistes of the North East. Apart from music, Garg also contributed to Assamese cinema as an actor and filmmaker, leaving a multi-faceted legacy.
Fans have described his loss as “irreplaceable” and many have called upon the government to honour his memory by instituting awards or cultural initiatives in his name. Cultural organisations across Assam are also planning memorial concerts and events in the coming weeks to celebrate his life and work.
The decision to conduct a second postmortem reflects both the emotional outpouring and the desire for clarity surrounding Zubeen Garg’s sudden demise. As Assam prepares for his cremation on Tuesday, the state remains united in grief, bidding farewell to one of its greatest cultural ambassadors whose music will continue to resonate for generations.
