'Voice of India' Ishmeet Singh drowns in Maldives

Ludhiana, July 29 (IANS) 'Voice of India' singing contest winner Ishmeet Singh Tuesday died under mysterious circumstances by "drowning" in a swimming pool in Male, the capital of the Maldives.

The 19-year-old singer hailing from a middle-class of this industrial city of Punjab had gone to Maldives for a promotional event with the music company with which he had a contract.

Relatives at his residence here said the family was informed telephonically by the music company officials that Ishmeet died while swimming in a hotel pool in the Maldives.

"We are too shocked to react. We have no other information so far," a shocked relative told IANS here while confirming the tragic news.

Relatives, friends and admirers of the singer made a beeline to his house even as his shocked parents tried to come to terms with the untimely tragedy. A pall of gloom descended on the locality.

The singer left here Tuesday morning for Maldives from Mumbai.

Ishmeet had Nov 26 last year won the 'Voice of India' singing contest, pipping his closest rival Harshit from Uttar Pradesh in a keen contest. He was given the winner's trophy by melody queen Lata Mangeshkar.

Supporters of the singer voted heavily for him from Punjab during the finals of the contest. Even though Harshit led the votes tally in most regions of the country, the final count went in Ishmeet's favour due to heavy voting from Punjab.

"He was like a brother to me. I cannot even comment on what has happened. I cannot believe that he is no longer with us," fellow contestant Harshit told a TV news channel.

• Television