/> The death of Voice Of India winner Ishmeet Singh in a freak drowning accident in the Maldives has left his colleagues from the music contest in a state of incredulity and shock.

Fellow-Punjabi Himani Kapoor says, " from across the room. He was such a gem of a person. Why should he be taken away so rudely? I'm leaving for Ishmit's hometown Ludhiana. I want to see him for the last time. I still can't believe he's gone. "

Himani accompanies the whole Voice Of India team to Ludhiana for the funeral on Thursday at 4 pm in Ludhiana.

Ishmit body was flown in to Ludhiana from the Maldives on Wednesday evening.

Says Himani, "All of us contestants from VOI, Toshi, Irfan, Amit Sana, Aishwarya plus two members of Endemol, the company that produces VOI, will be coming to Ludhiana. And of course Gajendra Singhji (the programme's producer and director)."

Till late on Wednesday evening Gajendra Singh was inconsolable. "How could this happen?" he kept repeating.

Apparently Ishmit who couldn't swim fell into the deep end of the pool.