Popular Singer’s Final Journey: Fans Flood Streets in Grief

Popular singer Zubeen Garg, belonging to Assam, died in Singapore on Sept. 19 following a swimming accident. The accident occurred as he went into the water without a life jacket. His body was brought to Assam and kept for the people to pay their last respects to him, at his residence.

Ahead of the funeral streets in Guwahati brimmed with fans, who came out in huge numbers to bid an adieu to the late singer.

On Saturday, a scuffle broke out amide the crowd with the police resorting to mild lathi charge to disperse the gathering at the Lokpriya Gopianth Bordoloi Internationa Airport. Hundreds of people thronged the airport to receive his mortal remains.

They lined up on the roads to catch a glimpse of the popular singer and sang his songs, even while tears were flowing down their cheeks. His fans are chanting ‘Maya Bini’ sung by Garg, as he requested them to sing after his passing. A constable, was seen singing Garg’s song, even as he was performing his duty of managing the crowd. The deep sorrow of the fans reflects the  immense love they have towards Garg, which is a big achievement for any individual.

As a mark of tribute to Garg, people shut down their shops. His fans showered flowers on the ambulance that brought the casket containing Garg’s mortal remains.

From his residence, the body was shifted to Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex for people to pay their homage. The details of the last rites of the singer are yet to be finalized, after consulting his family and different organisations. The cremation venue will be decided by the Cabinet which would meet on Sunday evening.

The casket containing Garg’s body reached Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi on Saturday midnight. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma received the body at the airport. He was accompanied by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and senior Assam government officials, posted in Delhi.

Sarma said that Garg had gone on a yacht trip involving swimming. Initially, he wore the life jacket but after a few seconds, he took it off saying it was oversized and making it difficult for him to swim. After sometime, he was found floating in the sea. Those around administered CPR and rusher him to Singapore General Hospital where he was declared dead.