Guwahati

Thousands of grieving fans thronged the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex in Guwahati's Sarusajai on Sunday to pay their last respects to music icon Zubeen Garg, whose mortal remains will be kept there for public homage.

Many devotees had camped outside the venue overnight, while several arrived since early morning as the administration made elaborate arrangements to receive the body.

Fans, holding aloft cut-outs of the beloved singer, sang his popular numbers through the night, sharing in each other's sorrow.

As the day progressed, the crowd swelled further with people pouring in from across Assam.

Fan crying while waiting for Zubeen Garg's body

The mortal remains of Garg, who passed away in Singapore on Friday, will be placed at a pandal inside the sports complex, with an alternate site prepared within the stadium premises in case of heavy rains.

The administration had earlier announced that the body would be available for public homage from 9 am to 7 pm. However, it was yet to reach Garg's Kahilipara residence, from where it will be brought to the Sarusajai stadium.

Thousands thronged the route from the airport, where his coffin arrived around 7 am, slowing the movement of the cortege.

Meanwhile, the intense heat caused several mourners at the stadium to faint, even as the sea of admirers continued to wait patiently for a final glimpse of their idol.

The Assam government is scouting for a suitable site in and around Guwahati for the cremation of popular singer Zubeen Garg, and will place the options before his family to take the final call, state minister Ranoj Pegu said on Sunday.

He said the sites were being supervised, keeping in mind that a memorial of the cultural icon, who died while swimming in the sea in Singapore on Friday, would also be built at the chosen spot.

"We had held deliberations yesterday about Sonapur being a possible spot... we have other options as well," Pegu told reporters after inspecting the site at Sonapur on the outskirts of Guwahati.

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He said top officials are also inspecting other sites and all the options will be placed before Garg's family.

"We will place the options before them and they will take the final call," Pegu added.

"Once the family decides, the final spot will be announced after the cabinet meeting this evening," Pegu added.