'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 here while confirming the tragic news.

According to reports Singh, had been frolicking in a shallow pool meant for children on Tuesday and later jumped into the deep-end of the main swimming pool and had immediately ran into difficulty.

"We understand that he did not know how to swim and had been advised by his friends not to get to the deep end," a hotel official of the Dhonveli resort in Maldives said.

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.

Punjabi pop singer Daler Mehndi said, "A god-fearing guy with no attitude. What I will say is that God liked him so much that He wanted him to be with Him. I can't forget that mellifluous voice and the charm on his face. He always greeted me with a gentle smile seeking blessings. My son, I can't believe that you are not with us."

For Sufi singer Hans Raj Hans, who knew Ishmeet personally, it was an irreparable loss.

"I remember, when I was in Mumbai, he would do Riyaaz for hours. A very simple guy with huge potential. His untimely demise has shaken me completely, as I had a personal bonding with him. Those three days I spent with him gave me a chance to know him well. Believe me, he was a gem," he said.