Zubeen Garg was one of the most loved voices of Assam. His sudden death has left a huge void in the cultural world of the state. Fans across the North East continue to mourn their icon.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced that a second post-mortem of singer Zubeen Garg’s body will be held in Guwahati on Tuesday. Doctors at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) will examine in the morning.
Zubeen Garg, 52, died in Singapore on September 19. He had gone there to perform at the North East India Festival. He passed away during a swimming session, and doctors suspected an epileptic seizure as a possible cause. Garg had suffered such seizures in the past five years.
Sarma said the state government decided after a demand rose on social media. “A new demand has cropped up on social media on Tuesday seeking another post-mortem of Garg’s body in Assam. In view of that and after taking consent of his family, the state government has decided to conduct another post-mortem on Garg’s body in Guwahati on Tuesday,” he said.
The chief minister also shared his personal view. “After the Singapore doctors had conducted the autopsy, I don't think it was necessary as they have more technical expertise, but there should not be any scope for any section to indulge in any kind of politics over Zubeen,” Sarma said.
He added, “I was not personally inclined to having a second postmortem examination of the singer's body. I do not wish to cut up his body again.”
The fresh post-mortem will be done at GMCH on Tuesday morning. Doctors from AIIMS Guwahati will also be present. The state government has assured that all steps will follow medical and legal procedures.
After the post-mortem, the body will be taken for the last rites. The funeral will take place at Kamarkuchi in Sonapur on the outskirts of Guwahati around 10 am. Around 85 members of Garg’s family, relatives, and close associates will attend.
On Sunday, thousands of fans gathered in Guwahati to bid farewell to the legendary singer. His mortal remains were kept in a glass casket draped with a traditional Assamese ‘gamosa’. People queued through the night to see him one last time. The atmosphere was full of grief as Assam mourned its cultural icon.
The government has announced that the last rites will be performed with full state honours.
Meanwhile, multiple police complaints have been filed across Assam. The complaints are against North East Festival organiser Shyam Kanu Mahanta and Garg’s manager Siddharth Sharma. Some have accused them of foul play in the death. Authorities have now handed over these cases to the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further probe.
Zubeen Garg was one of the most loved voices of Assam. His sudden death has left a huge void in the cultural world of the state. Fans across the North East continue to mourn their icon.
