New Insights into Zubeen Garg's Tragic Drowning Incident
Details from the Coroner's Inquiry
Guwahati, Jan 14: Recent revelations from the coroner's inquiry into the passing of cultural figure Zubeen Garg indicate that he was heavily intoxicated and not wearing a life jacket when he drowned near Lazarus Island in Singapore in September 2025.
During the hearing that commenced on Wednesday, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) David Lim from the Police Coast Guard testified that Garg, aged 53, had been drinking and repeatedly declined to wear a life vest before jumping into the water from a yacht.
Lim was the first witness to provide evidence in the inquiry, as reported by various Singaporean news outlets.
According to Lim, Garg and others boarded the yacht at Marina at Keppel Bay around 2 PM on September 19, 2025. Safety protocols required all passengers to wear life jackets before swimming. Upon reaching the vicinity of Lazarus Island around 3 PM, Garg initially entered the water with a life jacket but soon removed it, claiming it was too large.
After a brief return to the yacht, Garg appeared to struggle and needed help to get back on board. Nevertheless, he chose to swim again. Although a smaller life jacket was offered, he refused it and swam towards Lazarus Island without any flotation device, as stated by Lim.
Friends on the yacht urged him to return, but moments later, he was seen floating face down in the water, with froth visible at his mouth. He was retrieved from the water, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated while an emergency call was made at 3:36 PM.
A Police Coast Guard vessel arrived within ten minutes and escorted the yacht to Marina South Pier. Garg was transported by ambulance to Singapore General Hospital, where he was declared dead at 5:13 PM, with drowning cited as the cause of death.
An autopsy report presented in court revealed that Garg had a blood alcohol level of 333 milligrams per 100 ml, which would have severely impaired his coordination. Additionally, medications for hypertension and epilepsy were found, but no other drugs were detected.
Dr. Chan Shijia, a pathologist, testified that injuries on Garg's chest and lips were consistent with resuscitation attempts. Mobile phone footage submitted as evidence depicted Garg removing his life jacket and struggling to return to the yacht.
The inquiry was attended by the public, including Garg's uncle and nephew. Before the testimony began, Garg's uncle, Manoj Kumar Bothakur, requested to speak, expressing the family's desire for clarity regarding the circumstances of the singer's death.
“On September 19, Zubeen walked out of his hotel room alive and full of promise, but by the end of the day, he was gone,” he stated, emphasizing the family's and fans' need to understand whether Garg entered the water voluntarily or was encouraged to do so.
State Coroner Adam Nakhoda clarified that the purpose of the inquiry was to determine the cause and circumstances of death, not to assign blame.
Garg, a beloved cultural icon from Assam, was in Singapore for the North East India Festival organized by the Assamese community.
In Assam, the framing of charges in Garg's death case at the Kamrup Metro Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court is unlikely to occur at the next hearing scheduled for January 17. Newly appointed Special Public Prosecutor Ziaul Kamar mentioned on January 11 that he has not yet received all the necessary case files since taking over the prosecution.
The coroner's hearing in Singapore is ongoing, with 35 witnesses expected to testify, as the case continues to attract significant public and legal attention on both sides of the border.