Kamarkuchi, Kamrup District, September 23, 2025 — A massive traffic jam gripped the areas surrounding Kamarkuchi village in Assam’s Kamrup district on Tuesday, as an unprecedented crowd gathered for the state-honour cremation of legendary singer Zubeen Garg, who passed away in Singapore on September 19, 2025.

From early morning, thousands of vehicles poured in from across the state, leading to complete gridlock along the approach roads to Kamarkuchi. The Guwahati–Nagaon corridor and connecting rural routes witnessed bumper-to-bumper traffic, with queues stretching for several kilometres.

The narrow village roads leading to the cremation ground were overwhelmed by the influx, forcing many mourners to leave their vehicles behind and walk long distances to reach the site. Emergency vehicles also struggled to move, prompting police to deploy additional traffic personnel and announce immediate diversions.

Local residents said they had never witnessed such an overwhelming gathering in the region. Shops, schools, and daily activities were disrupted for hours as the crowd continued to swell throughout the day.

Despite the inconvenience, people waited patiently to pay their last respects to the beloved artist, whose contribution to Assamese music and culture spanned more than three decades. The state government accorded full state honours during the cremation ceremony.

Authorities later appealed to the public to use alternative routes and follow traffic instructions as the situation continued to remain tense due to the exceptional footfall.

• Dipanjana D

–