Singer Zubeen Garg's death: What toxicology analysis found in his body

It was in September last year that Assam's favourite singer, Zubeen Garg, passed away while swimming in the waters off Lazarus Island in Singapore. Ever since, there have been many allegations and accusations around the incident, and now, Singapore state coroner Adam Nakhoda has said that it was an accidental incident of drowning, upholding the findings of the Singapore Police Coast Guard (PCG). Nakhada said that no one had coerced the singer into the water, and it was simply an unfortunate, tragic drowning. At the same time, the 52-year-old singer was apparently intoxicated, and this could have impaired his judgment, Nakhoda said. 

What allegedly took his life
The coroner said the singer had removed his life jacket during his first swim in the waters. Even during the second swim, though he was asked to wear it, he refused.  PTI reports that witnesses saw Garg drinking alcohol, with one saying he had consumed a few cups of liquor, gin and whisky, along with a few sips of Guinness Stout (beer), according to the Channel report. A group of about 20 dropped anchor on a yacht they were on between Lazarus Island and St John's Island and took part in activities such as drinking alcohol, swimming and kayaking. When he went limp at one point, he was brought back to the yacht and was later hospitalised. 

Toxicology analysis
Coroner Nakhoda said Garg had been consuming alcohol in the days prior to and on the day of his death. A toxicology analysis found that Garg had a blood alcohol concentration of 333 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood, which suggests severe intoxication resulting in impaired coordination and reflexes, the court had previously heard. For comparison, the legal limit in Singapore is 80 milligrams per 100ml of blood. A high concentration of ethanol was also found in Garg's urine samples.

Garg has a medical history of hypertension and epilepsy, with his last known epileptic episode in 2024, the court heard. While the coroner accepted that it was possible that Garg had suffered an epileptic fit prior to his drowning, the evidence was inconclusive to make a definitive finding on this, said the Channel report. 

The singer was in Singapore for a festival organised to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and India. The festival was cancelled on learning of the singer's death. Garg was invited to perform at the festival as one of the most popular singers in the state of Assam and likely in North East India. 
(With PTI inputs)