The sudden and untimely death of iconic Assamese singer Zubeen Garg during a sea outing in Singapore on September 19 has left Assam and his fans around the world in shock. It closes a glorious chapter in Assamese music, leaving lakhs of his fans, especially the youth, devastated. The 52-year-old singer performed in more than 40 languages and dialects during his 33-year career, creating a huge fan following. Anticipating a potential political blowback, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma agreed to a second autopsy of the singer’s body in the presence of AIIMS doctors. With the Assembly election due in March 2026, any misstep in handling the aftermath of his death could cost Sarma dearly.