COLOMBO/LUDHIANA: Celebrity singer Ishmeet Singh from Punjab drowned in a swimming pool at a resort in the Maldives under mysterious circumstances.

Gurprinder Singh Sodhi, father of 20-year-old Ishmeet, who shot to fame by winning the Star India TV Voice of India contest in November last year, said at their home in Ludhiana that the event management company, which took his son to the Maldives, informed him at around 8PM that the singer died due to drowning in the swimming pool of the hotel where he was staying.

The B.Com second year student of MNC college in Mumbai went to the pool for frolicking but fell into its deep end leading to his drowning, AFP reported quoting a hotel official. Sodhi told reporters that they were surprised that their son had died due to drowning in the swimming pool.

"He had never swam before us and we are not aware whether he could swim or not," an inconsolably sobbing father said. A large number of people gathered at the small house of Ishmeet in Shastri Nagar locality of the industrial town.

All roads leading to his house from various adjoining localities including Model Town and Pakhowal Road were choked with vehicles and people trying to reach the singer's house. Ishmeet was doing a course in Architecture in Amritsar before he shifted to Mumbai last year after he won the Voice of India singing contest.

Ishmeet's death plunged the music world into mourning and leading playback singers Lata Mangeshkar and Abhijeet and Shaan expressed shock at the incident. "I was very happy when he won the Voice of India contest. Such a fate to befall one at such a young age....I have no words to express my feelings", said Lata.

She said Ishmeet had an original voice and did not imitate anybody else. Abhijeet, who was one of the jury members for Voice of India contest, said he was like a mentor for Ishmeet.

He said he recognized the talent in Ishmeet and other jury members used to accuse him of favoring him. Shaan said he was shocked at learning the news of Ishmeet's death.