After visiting Garg’s residence in Kahilipara, Sarma said that the Indian High Commissioner shared a list of 11 people who were with Garg.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday confirmed that popular singer Zubeen Garg died in Singapore during a swimming accident. He revealed that Garg had removed his life jacket before entering the sea, despite being asked by lifeguards to wear it.
According to Sarma, a group of 18 people, including Garg, went on a yacht trip that included swimming in the sea. Garg was later found floating.
The chief minister said the Indian High Commissioner in Singapore, Shilpak Ambule, informed him about the incident. Lifeguards and crew members had insisted that Garg wear a life jacket. Initially, he did wear it but removed it soon after, saying it was oversized and made it hard for him to swim.
Sarma added that once Garg was found floating, lifeguards gave him CPR and rushed him to Singapore General Hospital. However, doctors declared him dead on arrival. Authorities in Singapore are now questioning the people who accompanied the singer on the yacht.
After visiting Garg’s residence in Kahilipara, Sarma said that the Indian High Commissioner shared a list of 11 people who were with Garg. This included Abhimanyu Talukdar, who had booked the yacht, four members of Garg’s team, and two crew members.
“Since all the members accompanying Garg are Indian citizens, we will also approach the Union Home Ministry on the procedure to be followed for our concerned authorities to question them,” Sarma told reporters. He stressed that the people of Assam deserve to know the truth about what happened in Garg’s final moments.
The chief minister said an autopsy will be conducted in Singapore on Saturday. He expressed hope that Zubeen Garg’s mortal remains would be brought back to Assam the same evening.
Sarma confirmed that once the body arrives in Assam, it will be kept at Sarusajai Stadium for fans and the public to pay their last respects.
“All other arrangements will be made after his body's arrival,” Sarma said. He added that Garg’s family would take the final decision on his last rites, as the singer “belonged to the people of Assam.”
“I will also consult people, as I also do not have the right to take any decision without their knowledge,” Sarma added.
On Friday, the chief minister, along with his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, visited Garg’s residence to offer condolences to the grieving family.
