GUWAHATI – Thousands of people came to the Sarusajai stadium in Guwahati on Monday for the second day in a row to say goodbye to their favorite singer, Zubeen Garg. The 52-year-old singer died on September 19 in Singapore, where he was supposed to play at the North East India Festival. Reports say he drowned while swimming without a life jacket, and it is thought that an epileptic seizure may have played a role.
The Singapore High Commission sent an official death certificate that says “drowning” was the cause of death. But on Monday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that a second autopsy would be place on Tuesday morning at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). Doctors from AIIMS-Guwahati will be in charge of the process, which was ordered to “rule out any foul play” after a new request from the public.
The Last Journey of a Star
Fans could pay their last respects to Garg by viewing his body in a glass casket covered with a traditional Assamese “gamosa.” A huge number of sad supporters filled the stadium, with many coming from all around the state to see their idol one last time. Many well-known people were there, such as Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya and musician Papon. Garg’s four dogs were also there to say goodbye.
Fans brought flowers and gamosas and sang his favorite songs outside the event, which made everyone feel very emotional. The Assam government said that all schools and colleges in the state would be closed on Tuesday because of the funeral.
On Tuesday, September 23, Garg will be cremated at Kamarkuchi, which is outside of Guwahati. The Assam police will carry out his last rites with full state honors, and a gun salute will be given to the late singer. After the cremation, Garg’s ashes would be buried in Jorhat, which is where he spent his childhood. This was done to honor the feelings of the people in that city.